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Volunteers preserve heritage trees at Parker’s Landing Historical Park

The Columbian
Published: November 12, 2022, 5:02am

WASHOUGAL — Parker’s Landing Historical Park volunteers were recognized at a recent Port of Camas-Washougal meeting for their efforts to deep-water park trees throughout the dry summer and fall. Commissioners and the port’s executive officer, David Ripp, applauded the volunteers and presented each with a reusable water bottle. Commissioners said how pleased they were to see a growing number of community groups and volunteers supporting the park.

After the Parkersville National Historic Site Advisory Committee decided to nominate the historic apple grove, cherry, and walnut trees for designation as Clark County Heritage Trees, arborists from Cascade Tree Works volunteered to meet with committee members David Parker, Jim Cooper and Susan Tripp.

“They measured the trees and assessed their health to help complete the nomination form,” explained Tripp. “Thanks to their help, the PAC received a letter dated July 20, 2022, from the WSU Master Gardener Program announcing that all Parker’s Landing Historical Park tree nominations have been included in the Clark County Heritage Trees.”

Over a few visits with the arborist, committee members learned that the biggest threat to the heritage trees was the increasingly warm and dry summers we’ve experienced over the last seven years.

Committee members reached out to volunteers from the first annual Parkersville Day and others. An early morning watering schedule was formed. Scout Troop 562 watered on the first and fifth Mondays, the Garden Club of Camas and Washougal watered on the second Wednesday, the PAC watered on the third Tuesday, and the Rotary Club watering on the fourth Monday.

The port agreed to pay for the additional water. Port staff cleaned out the shed used by the Garden Club volunteers in the 1950-1970s, and purchased three 100-foot hoses, and various nozzles, including a small yellow tractor that traveled the hose slowly for deep watering.

Scout Michael Moran led the troop in organizing the hose layout. He took a thorough approach to watering each zone, exceeding the suggested time period. He single-handedly gathered and returned the heavy 100 foot hoses to the shed.

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