Plumbelina woke up, as usual, just before 6AM this morning. I let her outside to do her business, washed my face, shoveled the fresh snow off the walks and then took she and Penelope on a walk between the footbridges on the Portneuf River; the streets were quiet, the sky was still dark and the dogs ran wild through the snow on the foot path.
The City of Pocatello has been cleaning the Portneuf River banks which is a euphemism for murdering hundreds of beautiful cottonwood and elm trees. I’ve been in a wretched fit of depression this week any time I’ve caught a glimpse of the banks, bald and scarred in the winter light. I support manicuring and tending forests and city greenbelts in my fair Idahoan town but this, this clear cutting of the river banks really has my gitch in a knot.
What has made me truly inconsolable is the removal of an ancient, huge and beautiful cottonwood on the corner of the footbridge behind our home. The tree was easily one hundred and fifty years old (which is very old for these parts, and quite old for a cottonwood) and had a massive and lush crown to it, a crown that tangled itself in the stars. The limbs of this tree reached out over the river waters and it had a wonderful and wise countenance to it. When they felled it this week, all of our dishes rattled in the cupboards and I think this 103 year old farm house let out a sad groan.
This cottonwood tree, bless its dryad soul, was certainly here before Pocatello was settled as an actual township in 1889. This valley was formerly the wintering grounds for the Northern Shoshone tribe. I like to imagine the people of the horse burned small fires beneath the branches of this tree in the cold months and shaded their ponies beneath its leafy cool in the summer months, when they found themselves passing though. I’m sure two generations of Palmer children who grew up in this very house climbed this tree trunk and looked out over the mountains laughing at the top of their lungs in the dog days of summer.
I’m beyond sad over the removal of this tree. I’m inconsolable. I feel like a portion of Pocatello history and beauty has been uprooted and cast down without dignity or respect paid. The more I think of the empty space over on the riverbank, the bluer I feel.
I’m not a knee jerk tree hugger. I’m a thoughtful environmentalist. The state of clear cutting affairs along the Portneuf River has warranted the submission of a letter to my city council about the approach to the deforestation of our riverbanks in town and the importance of tending to the story of this valley, brick by brick and trunk by trunk. I believe in keeping history alive in this city, and that includes the presence of our most ancient and beautiful trees.
City of Pocatello, you’ll be hearing from me soon.
Inconsolably and sincerely yours,
Jillian S. Lukiwski
I totally agree with you that the tree removal is ludicrous, but you should probably know that the city is acting as a result of a request from FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers to improve the city's levees. There were a few public meetings. You can read more about the project here: http://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/online/article_dd5096b8-17cb-11df-8bf7-001cc4c03286.html
Good for you for acting! xx
Oh I know why they're doing it, I think the removal of a 150 year old tree is ridiculous though! Any damage those tree roots might do to a levee was done YEARS ago (before the levees even existed). Had I known they were going to cut that tree down, I'd have chained myself to it in protest.
You know, there is an argument that tree roots and vegetation actually help hold levees together because of developed and intricate root systems…
I'm still going to write to the city based on my opinion that the tree removal has been overly extensive to the detriment of the beauty and the history of this town….I know you're with me on that.
Thanks for the link, Kate the Great!
x
Absolutely, and I don't disagree with you at all. I think the approach to levee protection is completely backwards. I just also think the city's hands have been tied a little bit by FEMA. I'm glad you're writing, though. 🙂
I'm really glad you are going to send a letter. If I still lived in Poky, I would have been right there with you chained to that tree!
i am sad with you – and am glad you are voicing your feelings… in too many ways, for too many reasons, deforestation is running rampant… i only wish people would take in the bigger picture…
Most definately beyond SAD!
Your writing is beautiful as always. xo
I used to live in (the People's Republic of) Takoma Park, Maryland. Among many good ideas on which this town runs is a law stipulating that no tree may be removed without a permit from the city; if removal is absolutely necessary, the permit is issued and a new tree is planted somewhere in town to replace the lost one. This can't bring back old, uniquely beautiful trees, but it staves off deforestation.
That reminds me of the scene in Lord of the Rings when the orc are cutting down the old twisted trees from the ancient forest. I would be devastated if that happened near me as well. What a void there must be in those areas 🙁
I love old trees, we have a Shagbark Hickory in our back woods that I have a picture of from 1935, and it looks the same size, so like your tree it is very old. I too imagine what it has seen over the years. I am not an extremist tree hugger either, I think there is always room for compromise. But sometimes the powers that be just don't think. Trees are a living connection to history long after we are all gone.
luckily the trees have a voice through yours.
You go! I weep for trees felled with no thought. I wept when I had to cut one down due to disease!
Our kind plants trees.
Make a piece in memorium and donate its profits to a worthy environmental agency – or buy a couple of trees for the ranch. Big enough to tell the story on the chest side near the heart.
For the dryads. Love you.
it feels like trees have souls. I know they don't really – at least I think I know that. but still…its so sad.
your letter may or may not be effective, but it will surely affect someone. your words always do.
my sympathies go out to you and a hug too. 🙂
I can feel your heartache over that ancient cottonwood being torn down. The last place I lived (which was & is suburbia) had a lovely greenbelt behind it when I moved in. Then the City of Peterborough decided more houses needed to go in. I used to have deer eat berries off my shrubs & rabbits hop about my garden. I used to ride my mountain bike down to the pond, watching nature grow wildly in the marsh. I had to leave that home when I started to watch the trees torn down & the deer stopped coming to my backyard. I was deeply saddened & maddened! I, too, wrote a letter to the City. It didn't do a lick of difference, but it felt good to voice my opinion.
p.s. bless you for caring so deeply for your township's history/nature. Also, for using the word 'gitch'.
I AM THE LORAX!
I SPEAK FOR THE TREES!!!!!!!
Woah…moment of inspiration there…sorry for yelling…
it *is* so sad to lose the big trees. they are the elders of the forest, the ones who speak to us of times that passed before.
xx
Oh how about the old regal tree, everywhere people are destroying history. I hope you grabbed some of that ol lovely tree for yourself would make some kind of a fantastic treasure for your home someday, you know keeping the tree with you forever, a piece of power that tree held for so long in the history of your town. I think keeping up our towns and roadways are wonderful but not when it comes to destruction that is simply not acceptable!
I would just like to say.
You look good whilst writing.