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Giant sequoia falls, raising questions about what to do next
Los Angeles Times ^ | October 29, 2011 | Bettina Boxall

Posted on 10/29/2011 12:26:50 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife


The giant sequoia lies across the popular Trail of 100 Giants at Sequoia National Forest, Calif. No one was hurt when it fell. (Sequoia National Forest / September 30, 2011)

Along the Sierra Nevada's famed Trail of 100 Giants, the mammoth sequoia had stood sentry since King Arthur's knights gathered at the Round Table.

It witnessed the arrival of the first European settlers and the flurry of miners in search of gold. The onset of the Medieval Warm Period and the passing of the Little Ice Age. It stood, unperturbed, through the Great War and the one that followed.

Then a month ago, as a handful of amazed tourists looked on, it toppled — crushing a bridge over a small stream and blocking the path.

Now, the U.S. Forest Service must decide what to do.

Slice a big hole in the 300-foot-long roadblock? Go around it? Over it? Under it?

When you're dealing with a 1,500-year-old sequoia in a national monument, the questions aren't just logistical. They're environmental, emotive and potentially legal.

Officials closed the popular tourist trail, cleared the debris and solicited ideas from the public on how to deal with the fallen giant — actually two trees fused at the base.

Among the 30 or so suggestions: Reroute the trail. Tunnel under the trunks. Carve steps and build a bridge over them. Sell what would be one heck of a lot of firewood.

"This has not happened in the Sequoia National Forest before," said public affairs officer Denise Alonzo, explaining the indecision.........

In considering its options, the Forest Service wants to keep the paved path accessible to the disabled and make sure nothing is done to damage the root systems of surrounding trees, Alonzo said........

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: environment; perry2012; trees
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To: momtothree

It was 7 years ago and I heard it move even then. Deep growling sound. The Forest Service knew!


61 posted on 10/29/2011 1:00:07 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Proud2BeRight
Cut a slice out of it the width of the trail, repair the trail, and display the slice at the visitor center to show the age of the trees in the park.

The simple and obvious solution - so they probably won't do it.

62 posted on 10/29/2011 1:00:18 PM PDT by Chesterbelloc
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To: PGR88

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G880gxjj9dI


63 posted on 10/29/2011 1:01:40 PM PDT by Pinkbell
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Ya know that the Forest Service wants to cut it out of the way ...

BUT ...

First, ya gotta have the obligatory Environmental Impact Statement ...

Then, ya gotta have the inevitable law suit in Federal Court by the Sierra Club ...

Then, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has to step in and declare that cutting the Sequoia would violate its rights ...

Then, it finally gets to SCOTUS and they say ...

“Cut the friggin’ thing up - you bunch of maroons !!!”

Total process time = 20 years ...


64 posted on 10/29/2011 1:04:18 PM PDT by Lmo56 (If ya wanna run with the big dawgs - ya gotta learn to piss in the tall grass ...)
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To: Scotsman will be Free

In California, hands will be wrung, petitions circulated, sitins tolerated etc.
And bugs will infect the dead wood.
And bugs will spread to live wood.
And more damage will be done before it gets cut up and hauled away.
...for want of a nail the kingdom was lost...


65 posted on 10/29/2011 1:05:02 PM PDT by bossmechanic (If all else fails, hit it with a hammer)
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To: momtothree

This is California.. why, oh why, do I get the idea that some idiot will actually want to have a public funeral? The death of a tree.. boo hoo hoo.


That’s pretty harsh, the history of that tree is extrodinary
and it was a living thing standing tall for hundreds of years, that alone deserves some respect. You sound so angry. It’s amazing that you can’t see the sadness of a giant tree dying after all those years, and with your screen name, momofthree, what kind of sympathy did you teach your children? I feel sorry for you.


66 posted on 10/29/2011 1:05:46 PM PDT by Tyrone13
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To: jwalsh07

67 posted on 10/29/2011 1:05:50 PM PDT by EBH (God Humbles Nations, Leaders, and Peoples before He uses them for His Purpose)
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To: bossmechanic

You forgot that some earth firsters will spike the tree sometime during the night to maim a few loggers.


68 posted on 10/29/2011 1:06:25 PM PDT by Scotsman will be Free (11C - Indirect fire, infantry - High angle hell - We will bring you, FIRE)
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To: Johnny B.

Wow! Johnny B those are some interesting photo shots from that era of logging. Way before my time but I love seeing photo’s of when America really knew how to “work”.


69 posted on 10/29/2011 1:06:54 PM PDT by caww
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

In all seriousness, it’s a shame that tree fell. Those giant sequoias are beautiful trees. The suggestion about building a bridge over it is good. They couldn’t build steps because they said the trail needs to be handicapped accessible.


70 posted on 10/29/2011 1:08:01 PM PDT by Pinkbell
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To: sodpoodle
Step 1: Begin

Step 2: Make one of these:

Step 3: Any wood left?

Step 4: If yes, got to Step 2, else Step 5

Step 5: End

71 posted on 10/29/2011 1:08:01 PM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Pray for the peace of Jerusalem - Ps 122:6)
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To: All

Man, don’t tell the Fed, they will turn it into Section 8 housing...


72 posted on 10/29/2011 1:08:16 PM PDT by Molon Labbie ("It's free, swipe your EBT!")
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Now, the U.S. Forest Service must decide what to do.

Order new signs for the "Trail of 99 Giants".

73 posted on 10/29/2011 1:08:53 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Put it back up!


74 posted on 10/29/2011 1:12:57 PM PDT by Libloather (The epitome of civility.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

75 posted on 10/29/2011 1:13:05 PM PDT by Brandonmark (2012: Our Hope IS Change!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Obama will give it (not sell it) to China because he says there is a shortage of chopsticks over there.

We won't see a penny of it!

-PJ

76 posted on 10/29/2011 1:13:47 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (If you can vote for President, then your children can run for President.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I think Nature would want us to use it for lumber. Since the tree reached the end of its life, it is now time for the rest of Nature (us) to make use of its material.


77 posted on 10/29/2011 1:15:29 PM PDT by Clock King (Ellisworth Toohey was right: My head's gonna explode.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
They should set up a new branch of the EPA for just such an emergency. I said "branch." Get it? That's a joke, son. Foghorn Leghorn

78 posted on 10/29/2011 1:17:03 PM PDT by UnwashedPeasant (Don't nuke me, bro)
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Uh Oh! Didn't Donate?


Click The Pic To Keep Your Forum

79 posted on 10/29/2011 1:18:59 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (America! The wolves are here! What will you do?)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

I heard that Fox News has already scheduled a debate between Rick Perry and the Big Dead Tree.

The Vegas odd-makers have already listed the Big Dead Tree as a 3:1 favorite over Perry in the Rick Perry v. Big Dead Tree Debate.

80 posted on 10/29/2011 1:19:05 PM PDT by trumandogz (In Rick Perry's Nanny State, the state will drive your kids to the dentist at tax payer expense)
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