Politics & Government
Kopachuck to Lose 900 Trees in Root Rot Solution
But "silver lining" is that the tree removal will actually cover a much smaller area than what was originally expected, said restoration ecologist Robert Fimbel, at an opening reception for an exhibit paying homage to the trees.
About 900 diseased Douglas fir trees will be cut down in coming weeks under a proposed state plan to contain the laminated root rot plaguing Kopachuck State Park.
That’s the bad news.
The “good” news is that the tree removal will actually cover a much smaller area than what officials thought would be needed to contain the fungus.
Find out what's happening in Gig Harborwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The early thinking had been that about Douglas firs across about 60 acres, or about 60 percent of Kopachuck, would have to be destroyed, said Robert Fimbel, the restoration ecologist tasked with diagnosing the extent of the disease and devising a solution.
But after spending several weeks walking the park’s grounds, pulling up roots and analyzing samples, he has advocated a less invasive response that focuses tree removal in areas where the root rot is most active and creates buffers around the removal sites to isolate and starve the pathogen.
Find out what's happening in Gig Harborwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In the end, Fimbel said his proposal to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission should impact about 26 acres of trees, an area representing about 25 percent of Kopachuck.
The plan will result in “a mosaic of existing forest [that] will be interspersed with a younger forest growing up around it,” said Fimbel. “We’ll have to be vigilant about monitoring the health of the residual trees. But it will significantly reduce risk while retaining some of the elements of the forest that have brought people to the forest so far.”
Fimbel made his remarks at the Sept. 30 opening reception of, an exhibit by local artists and writers at the that grew from a desire to pay tribute to the trees and provide catharsis to the public response to the loss.
About 100 people attended the event, including Parks Commissioner Patricia Lantz and local artist Robin Peterson, the two people credited with getting the arts community engaged in the project. Peterson, in particular, reached out to local artists to visit Kopachuck — at one point organizing a group “field trip” — to find creative inspiration.
“Tucked in the corners they found all kinds of nooks and crannies and trees and things that were inspiring and they’re still out there,” she said.
The paintings, sculpture, photographs and poetry on display in the museum lobby are only a portion of the works created from the effort.
Laminated root rot is a naturally occurring fungus that feeds on the root systems of mature evergreens. It is widespread in the Pacific Northwest. Douglas firs, which dominate the Kopachuck forest, are especially susceptible. There’s no known remedy and left unchecked, the affliction poses a risk to people and property because trees can fall over with no warning. Because of this, the state shut down much of Kopachuck in May.
The proposal awaiting approval by the parks commission will take out unhealthy trees primarily in the eastern portion of Kopachuck, enabling the park to be reopened to the public.
Douglas firs with advanced root rot located within 1.5 times their height from campgrounds, structures and roadways make up most of the 900 to be cut down. There are some infected firs in other areas and hardwoods in declining health slated for removal as well.
The project is expected to get underway in November, although the public can comment beforehand until Oct. 17.
Click on the PDF to read the poem written by a local Cub Scout.
