02-11-10

Media and Interested Parties

In order to allow more time for public participation, Clackamas County has extended the deadline for the 2010 Heritage Tree nominations through Monday, March 1.

The Heritage Tree Program encourages residents and property owners to identify and protect individual trees or groups of trees that meet one or more of the following qualifications.

• Specimen:  A tree of exceptional size, form or rarity, or horticultural value
• Historic:  A tree of exceptional age, and/or associated with or contribution to an historic structure or district or with a noted person or historic event
• Landmark:  A tree that is a prominent identifying feature of a community
• Collection:  A group of trees in a notable grove, avenue or other planting

Nominated trees will be inspected by an arborist to ensure criteria are met, and then forwarded to the County's Historic Review Board.  The Historic Review Board will recommend trees to be recognized to the County Board of Commissioners, which will designate Heritage Trees in May (National Historic Preservation Month). 

Anyone may nominate a tree or trees, but the person or organization that owns the land on which the tree stands must consent to the nomination.  There are no regulatory restrictions associated with the designation.

Landowners whose nominations are approved have three options for recognition:

• At no charge to landowner:  Recognition at a Board of County Commissioners meeting, and on the County website and in the County newsletter, Citizen News;
• For $40:  All of the above, plus a plaque, and a stand on which to display the plaque at the base of the tree(s);
• For $75:  All of the above, plus recognition as a contributor to the Clackamas County Heritage Tree Program.