After a thorough risk assessment, community engagement with neighbors, and consultation with the Woodland Tree Foundation, the City of Woodland regretfully plans to remove the large valley oak tree on Casa Linda Drive due to serious structural concerns.

An August 2021 advanced risk assessment performed by a registered arborist determined that the oak is at significant risk of tree failure and should be removed. Over the course of seven site visits using varied methods, the arborist discovered significant structural issues including decay within the wood near some primary limbs and within the trunk itself. A tomogram - sending sound waves through the tree to locate any decayed, hollow, or missing wood - found “essentially no sound wood on portions of the north, west, and east sides of the trunk” when measured at 12 inches above street grade. The report classified a trunk failure as probable within the next 20 years and a primary or secondary limb failure as possible within the next five years. In response to the severe threat of failure and a lack of adequate risk mitigation strategies for a tree this large and this old, the report recommended that the tree be removed.

The City of Woodland regrets that removal is necessary and continues to work closely with the Woodland Tree Foundation and interested community members to properly commemorate this heritage oak. The City plans to memorialize this oak on Arbor Day 2022 and preserve some of its wood for public display, benches, and more. 

The full advanced (“Level 3”) risk assessment can be found here.

Please direct any questions to City of Woodland Communications Manager Spencer Bowen at spencer.bowen@cityofwoodland.org.