Thanks for looking into this. A good response from the agency.
Alan Contreras
Eugene, Oregon
acontrer56@xxxxxxxxx
On Mar 24, 2016, at 2:52 PM, Susan Deagle <sdeagle@xxxxxxx> wrote:
I was alarmed at the recent post that native oaks had been removed from
Ankeny Wildlife Refuge to make room for the new Nature Center. I’ve always
been a believer in letter writing, so I emailed a message to the contact at
Ankeny. I received the following response, which made me breathe a sigh of
relief! I probably should have researched the issue more before I wrote; it
looks like there is a lot out there as far as pertinent information.
Susie Deagle
Hi Ms. Deagle,
Good morning, my name is Graham Peters and I am the Refuge manager here at
Ankeny and Baskett Slough. Only one Oregon white oak was cut down up at
Ankeny Hill and it was a very tough decision for us as managing, conserving,
and restoring Oregon white oak communities is high priority on all Willamette
Valley Refuges. The tree was nearly dead and could not be saved, it posed a
safety hazard to the public as we will be attracting a significant increase
in visitors with the new Nature Center, and we will be incorporating the tree
and oak conservation awareness in the new Nature Center building. The other
trees that were cut down included non-native silver poplar and non-native
walnut. Our eventual goal will be to restore the Ankeny Hill area to native
upland prairie with oak savanna on the top of the hill. Therefore, removing
non-native trees is a first step in the restoration process. We would never
intentionally remove oak without assessing all of our options and it requires
significant justification. Thank you for your concern.
The Refuge reached out to the public via various outlets to inform folks
about Nature Center site developments including removing the oak tree. We
posted on our Willamette Valley Complex Facebook page, asked our Nature
Center project partners, including Salem Audubon to do the same, and we have
three signs posted up at Ankeny Hill letting people know that Nature Center
site developments are under way. Please see the text from the Facebook post
on February 9th below:
Next week you'll start to see a few changes at Ankeny Hill Overlook, a
popular spot at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. The work to be completed has
multiple objectives: clear non-native tree species such as poplar and walnut;
re-purpose the declining white oak tree; and ready the site for the Nature
Center that will be constructed in 2017.
Unfortunately, the large oak tree that has been a dominant feature of this
landscape can't be saved and is a safety hazard. An arborist examined the
tree last year and it only has an estimated 10% of its leaves left and less
than a 20% chance of survival. It would still have enormous value as a snag
but since this is the future home of an education center, it poses a risk to
visitors and school groups that frequent the site. Fortunately, a local,
family-owned mill (Zena Forest Products) will help turn this tree into
features you'll see throughout the new Nature Center. It is proposed to take
on many important roles: an educational display, tables, a children's
experience zone, flooring, and much more.
Oak habitat is a rare and priority habitat type in the Willamette Valley and
at Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge. White oaks are being replanted as part of
the future site and habitat restoration.
Do you have pictures of this legacy oak that you could share with us? We have
some but we know there are neighbors, friends, birders and visitors out there
that have captured beautiful photos of this tree and the wildlife it
attracts. This tree will be an important part of the new Nature Center and
we'd like to include some photos. Share pictures, comments and stories with
us: willamettevalley@xxxxxxx <mailto:willamettevalley@xxxxxxx>.
Sincerely,
Graham Evans-Peters
Refuge Manager
Ankeny and Baskett Slough NWR
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
10995 Hwy. 22
Dallas, OR 97338
503-623-2749 (o)
541-760-2872 (c)
graham_evans-peters@xxxxxxx <mailto:graham_evans-peters@xxxxxxx>
