rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/help-save-garry-oaks-by-dower-elementary?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-help-save-garry-oaks-by-dower-elementary' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> The Garry Oak Coalition https://actionnetwork.org/groups/garry-oak-coalition https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/letters/photos/000/448/711/normal/Screenshot_2026-05-27_at_21-57-58_8104_Custer_Rd_SW_-_Google_Maps.png Make Public Comments at Lakewood City Council Meeting: Monday, June 1st, 7:00 PM Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main St SW, Lakewood, WA 98499 Attend by Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86872632373 Attend by phone: (253) 215-8782 and enter participant ID: 868 7263 2373 Send written comments to City Clerk before 5pm on June 1st: BSchumacher@cityoflakewood.us SAVE THE DOWER GARRY OAKS Please make a public comment at the Lakewood City Council meeting on Monday, June 1st at 7:00 PM to protest the proposed cutting of three protected Garry oaks at Dower Elementary for a sidewalk project — one of which is double-trunked — even though there is already a sidewalk on the other side of the road. These trees are part of a larger oak grove and stand only a few feet from native camas flowers, very rare today in Lakewood, but an important prairie indicator species and evidence, together with the oaks, of indigenous stewardship of this land. Garry oak habitat is one of the rarest and most threatened ecosystems in North America. According to state law, it is the City's responsibility to protect these oaks and to use the Best Available Science in its policies and decisions. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife guidance, which is the accepted Best Available Science regarding Garry oaks, states that Garry oaks west of the Cascades should not be cut except for stand enhancement, and that impacts to them should be avoided. Avoidance is the first step in the mitigation sequence, and we do not believe that all reasonable alternatives have been examined. These oaks are on the City's own public right of way, with nothing standing in the way of protection, unlike the situation of oaks on private property. Still, even the City itself cuts down ancient Garry oaks instead of protecting them. Enough is enough. Far, far too many oaks have been lost already. An approximately 570-year-old oak was cut down for the Tillicum path project last year, along with several other large Garry oaks. About a dozen more large oaks were removed for the Phillips Road sidewalk in 2022. A 400+ year old oak was cut for the Hipkins roundabout. Other Garry oaks were removed on Nyanza and 112th last year for sidewalks. These very slow-growing oaks -- growing just 1 inch per 15 to 20 years -- are irreplaceable certainly in our lifetimes. Garry oaks are a keystone species, supporting hundreds of native plants, birds, insects, and other organisms -- including endangered Western gray squirrels. Please attend the meeting in person and make a public comment. If you can't attend, please send in a written comment by 5pm on Monday, June 1st. Those who attend can also send in a written comment. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/help-save-garry-oaks-by-dower-elementary