Davis Meeker Garry oak tree treatment plan moving forward 

The Tumwater Historic Preservation Commission approved a treatment plan for the Davis Meeker Garry oak tree.  

The commission made the move during a meeting on Thursday, March 12, after hearing a report from city staffers that summarizes the plan. 

The 20-page document, which was prepared by arborist firm Todd Prager & Associates, details a multi-year strategy for managing the historic tree on Old Highway 99 adjacent to Olympia Regional Airport.

The plan is an expansion of treatment plan “Option B” in Todd Prager’s risk assessment for the tree in 2025.

The Tumwater City Council approved the alternative, which focuses on retaining and managing the tree through reduction pruning, supplemental support systems and root zone management. 

The plan is divided into two phases, beginning with root zone management activities through July 2026.  

Tumwater Urban Forester Brian Caughlan told the commission the phase involves improving drainage of the soil under the tree by using air excavation tools to create holes within the ground that will be filled with biochar and other soil amendments. 

Caughlan said the first phase would prepare the tree and set it up for success when pruning activities take place during the second phase, which is slated for August 2026 to June 2028. 

The plan calls for the reduction of up to 10% of the canopy to ensure it retains enough leaf surface area to maximize photosynthesis. 

“We're just going to be reducing a little bit over the road, maybe a couple others like dead limbs,” Caughlan said. 

He added that anything above 15% would put extra weight on the union, or the part of the tree where the branch connects with the trunk. 

Additionally, the plan details optional measures such as fencing, native tree plantings, as well as the installation of support systems through cabling. 

Assistant City Administrator Kelly Adams said the plan is to pursue the measures except for cabling, which she explained could do more harm than good since the tree has two co-dominant limbs. 

“If you review a lot of meeting minutes from council, from the initial assessment, even before Todd Prager was involved, cabling was a very dubious option. It can actually do more harm to a tree than actually helping the tree,” Adams told the commission. 

In terms of funding the activities, Adams said the city council passed a resolution allocating $55,000 for managing the tree. She added that internal discussions are underway to request additional funding. 

“(The $55,000) might not even cover the first year of work, so we're working diligently to get a better cost estimate to go back to city council,” Adams said. 

The Davis Meeker tree, an estimated 400-year-old landmark that served as a trail marker on the historic Cowlitz Trail, was the center of a community issue in 2023, when former Mayor Debbie Sullivan sought to remove the tree due to public safety concerns.

Following intense public opposition, the city hired Todd Prager to conduct a risk assessment, which found that the tree only posed a "moderate" risk rating. 

The treatment plan can be read in full here.