A large English oak tree, widely considered to be a Shallow Lake landmark, is coming down.
The Township of Georgian Bluffs was left with no other choice but to remove the 150-year-old tree on 2nd Street after diagnosing it with oak wilt. The aggressive disease prevents oak trees from moving water and nutrients throughout their branches, causing rapid decline. The disease can also spread to nearby oak trees.
An arborist determined the old oak could not be saved through treatment, pruning, or partial removal because the wilt's progression was too severe. Staff monitoring the tree over the past year observed signs of decline, including extensive dieback in the upper canopy. In addition, large branches have been breaking off due to recent strong winds, posing a safety concern for pedestrians and drivers.
“We recognize that many residents were surprised to learn of the removal after work had already begun. We acknowledge that while tree removals are often routine for staff, this tree holds special significance in the community and needed to be handled with more care and communication,” Township CAO Ryan Thompson said in a statement. “This was a difficult decision, but it was made to protect the community and other nearby trees from further impacts, and the potential for disease transmission left no reasonable alternative.”
Work to fully remove and dispose of the tree will continue throughout this week.
Residents are encouraged by the township to reflect on the tree's history and share memories and photos of it on social media platforms.
