The Mid-Columbia
Community Forestry Council has sponsored a “Big Tree Program” since 1994.
Patterned after the National and State programs, the local ‘Big Tree
Program’ has discovered an amazing diversity of trees.
It was a surprise to some to find that even though much younger, many
trees growing here are reaching the size of their brethren in Seattle and
other “wetter” climates.
The Council
maintains a list of all the trees nominated in the Mid-Columbia region as Big
Tree candidates. Any specimens
that appear to meet or exceed state champions are submitted to the Washington
State Big Tree Coordinator, Dr. Robert Van Pelt at the University of
Washington.
Several years ago
the Mid-Columbia Community Forestry Council put together a book of “Trees of
the Mid-Columbia Region” utilizing an urban forestry grant provided by the
Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the United States Forest
Service. This book was a result of searching out, finding, and measuring the
“Big Trees” in the Mid‑Columbia region.
The purpose of
the book was to give residents of this region an idea of the richness of tree
species planted in area landscapes, and to provide new homeowners and
established owners, a partial guide to the suitability of a given tree for
your location.
In this section
you’ll find:
Big Tree Register
This lists the
trees that have been nominated as Big Tree candidates. Not all trees nominated are ideal species for planting in the
average home or commercial landscape of the region. Many are fast growing, short-lived, weak-wooded trees that
quickly outgrow their space and are not recommended for planting in area
landscapes.
Database