NEWS BRIEFS
informed of the impact of the proposed
action on endangered species listed
northern spotted owls and be given
“meaningful opportunity” to weigh in. —
Camilla Mortensen
WOW TREES
TO STAY
STANDING
The fight over the removal of two of
the three bigleaf maple trees outside the
WOW Hall has become a compromise.
The city of Eugene Parks and Open Space
Division has decided to allow both of the
threatened trees to remain standing with
careful management to allow replacement
trees time to grow and provide cultural and
economic benefits to the historic music
venue.
The two trees were originally slated for
removal due to the presence of Ganodderma
Spp., a decaying fungus, as well
as Armillaria shoestring root rot, and city
officials were concerned the trees were not
structurally sound. The WOW Hall asked
for and was given time to hire an independent
contractor to reassess the trees due to the
shade and energy savings the maples
provide, as well as their historic standing
and notation on the WOW Hall’s listing on
the National Register of Historic Places.
After reviewing the independent
contractor’s report, the city originally
decided that the northern tree would be cut
and the southernmost tree would stay
standing as long the WOW Hall kept up
with annual inspections and remedial
pruning. Eugene’s urban forester Mark
Snyder said that the city originally
maintained its decision over the second
tree because it disagreed over the scores of
safety given by Damon Shrosk, the
independent arborist hired by the WOW
Hall to analyze the trees.
The WOW Hall appealed the decision,
and both the trees were given a reprieve
for several more years if the WOW Hall
meets conditions for their care.
Jon Pincus of the WOW Hall says the
venue has until June 15 to get the trees
taken care of and the city reserves the right
to remove the trees at any time if the
bigleaf maples become a concern. — Brit
McGinnis and Camilla Mortensen
FRIENDS
LAUGHTER
MEMORIES
IT’S ABOUT TIME
BY DAVID WAGNER
S
olstice comes every June like clockwork,
E ASTERN FOX SQUIRREL
this year the 21st, a consequence of the
orbit of a planet with a tilted axis. So
regular is this traditional beginning of summer
it is easy to forget that normal is disjunct from
average when trying to understand the
weather pattern of a particular year.
As unusual as it may seem, this dismal late
spring is normal. We need to remember that a
normal year is not an average year. Weather in
a normal year is under the control of factors
that preclude presentation of an average year.
This year’s lingering cold and wet spring is
a bane to gardeners who want to get their summer garden moving along. Not yet,
my friends. We are having a La Niña year. Our typical La Niña pattern is wet, cool
weather that lasts through spring into early summer. It is definitely not average,
but just as definitely normal. A knowledgeable friend says don’t think about
planting tomatoes until July 5! And I normally want to plant by the end of May.
Extended rain means more slugs and snails in the garden. Whether drowning
them in pie tins of beer or using slug bait, it’s wise to keep guard for them. Like
the pill bugs and earthworms, the garden slugs and snails are not native. Almost
all the urban pests are exotic, even the red squirrels. The eastern fox squirrel has
displaced the native gray squirrel in all parts of town except the heavily wooded
parks.
David Wagner is botanist who lives and works in Eugene. He teaches moss classes and leads nature walks. He may
be reached at fernzenmosses@me.com
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Summer Camp 2011
A summer
they’ll
remember
for a lifetime!
Kindergarten - 5th grade.
Swimming, field trips, tennis,
crafts, camping, and much
more.
Register on line or at the Y!
EUGENE FAMILY YMCA
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P 541 686 9622 W eugeneymca.org
EUGENE WEEKLY JUNE 2 2011 9