The Australian Pines at Fort Zach

Dear Supporters of SAVE OUR PINES:

We are writing to thank you for your continuing support and to review with you the significant events of the past year, 2008.

As you know, we argued against the waste of State funds on cutting down and removing beautiful shade trees and against the State funds wasted in buying and planting this new vegetation, and against the State expense of watering the newly planted vegetation--and against the use of critically short water resources.

Thus, it was not only an aesthetic argument but also an economic argument.  For a complete overview, please watch our video here (or watch at YouTube):

The efforts and support of many, and especially the support of Representative Ron Saunders, have been critical to our successes to date.

Where are we now?  We surmise that the Bill that we offered to “SAVE THE PINES” only in Fort Zachary Taylor was so appealing that other jurisdictions might have wished to extend it to cover the Pines that their citizens likewise wished to “SAVE”.  Therefore, to avoid this risk of statewide change, the State offered us a “Memorandum of Understanding” just two days before the Bill was to be introduced.  We accepted the offer after we made necessary changes to it.

The Memorandum of Understanding provides that the Pines in Fort Zachary Taylor Historic Park:

• will not be cut down but will be allowed to live their natural life.

• will be cared for by pruning to remove deadwood and dangerous limbs.  While the major objective is to ensure that Park visitors are unlikely to be injured by falling limbs, pruning also promotes the health of the Pines.

• will avoid premature death by suffocation by the overburden that now covers many of the root systems. This is to be accomplished by physical removal of the overburden as noted below.

• will be individually identified by permanent number clearly affixed to each pine, and by precision GPS survey of the location of each pine.

SAVE OUR PINES is pleased that this Memorandum of Understanding was signed by both parties and has been in effect for many months.

We are also especially pleased that a new era of cooperation, understanding, and trust has emerged between the Park officials at all levels and SAVE OUR PINES.

We note that the responsibility for the Fort Zach Park recently shifted to David Foster, who comes with glowing recommendations.  We are anxious to meet with Mr. Foster who we anticipate will create a very harmonious environment for all visitors to the Park and for special events such as “Sculpture Key West”

So--------you ask: Should SAVE OUR PINES go “out of business”?

We are certainly “ramping down”.  However, unforeseen circumstances may emerge which could threaten to undo what has been accomplished.  Therefore, we must diligently continue some level of independent oversight of the remaining tasks below.

First, we are exploring with the Park management at the State level the possibility of introducing a program of “Adopt a Pine”.  We feel this will offer many benefits to both citizens and the Park.  We will let you know more when we receive approval.

Second, you need to be aware that the “Removal of Overburden” still remains to be completed.  This is a complex matter---both the cause of the overburden and the process of removal.  We think you will be interested in some of the details here.

Third, as probably you know from the attention given to the Key West Historic District, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior has established HISTORIC GUIDELINES that must be observed whenever the subject under consideration exceeds fifty years in age.  Not everyone likes every consequence of these Historic Guidelines, but on balance, they are generally thought to be very beneficial to our society--and they are the Law.

The question remains:  Do the HISTORIC GUIDELINES apply to the Park areas created by dredging after WW II, in the late fifties?  No doubt, there is room for argument, but it would seem the answer is “Yes”.  If so, we must leave the Park to Nature and to History, and not try to change it by continuing to bring in foreign materials, notably foreign sand, which is a cause of the “overburden” on Pine roots as discussed earlier and explained below.  This matter will require thought, time, and attention to gain understanding and, hopefully, agreement.

Therefore, bottom line is that we are not “out of business”... And we do need and ask for your continuing support.

For more information and details, please contact us. And visit our website: Save Our Pines.

Sincerely,
Helen Harrison
January  7, 2009

FAQs: "Overburden"

Explanation of “overburden” and its removal

The root systems of a large fraction of Pines in Fort Zach Park are covered from a few inches to a foot or more with “something”. 

What is it and how did it get there?
 
When the bottom of the channel was dredged in order to make a more effective Port of Key West in the late 1950’s, the dredgings had to be placed somewhere.  That turned out to be what we now enjoy as Fort Zach Park.  These dredgings were a calcium-based sedimentary material composed mostly of old coral.  Not very inviting for most species but the Australian Pines are not fussy and grow where others will not.

The Park developed on its own for a while.  Eventually it began receiving help from well-intended members of the Park Service.  The original material of the Park made what some thought was a nice beach.  However, it was sometimes rough on the feet and it tended to erode occasionally and become under-cut.  The Park wanted a more friendly, stereotyped beach, so they undertook what is euphemistically called “Renourishment”

“Renourishment” in this case means importing silicon based non-native sand and dumping it over the nature beach.  Instantly the beach is transformed into a beautiful-appearing “sand beach”.  We all must admit that we like the smooth, foot-friendly sand.  Hooray--but only for the short term.

As soon as a major storm occurs, the new sand is transported partly into the sea to disturb the virgin ecology of the sea plants--and partly on-shore where it covers--you guessed it--the root systems of the Pines!  Over the years, several “renourishments” and many storms have resulted in part of the overburden we have today.

That is one way the overburden reached the roots.  Some consider it natural because storm waters deposited it.  It is more truthful to look to the proximate cause, which is the “renourishment” by dumping foreign sand.

A second way the sand gets over the roots is by the well-intended efforts  to improve the Park through creation of roadways and paths, and the leveling of the grounds. 

An effort to distinguish these two sources of overburden suggests they are perhaps very approximately equal.

Is overburden harmful to the Pines?
 
Laypersons have published their opinions to the effect that “Australian Pines can survive anything”, suggesting that removal of overburden is unneeded.

Realistically, only an experienced Arborist can answer this question.  Such a well recognized and board-certified expert is C. Way Hoyt of Fort Lauderdale.  After careful on-site inspection, Mr. Hoyt tells us that the overburden results in slow death by suffocation of the roots.  His conclusion explained why the trees with most overburden had the most dead limbs.  As the pruning of all trees was only recently completed with all dead limbs removed, this correlation is now difficult to observe.

All concerned have accepted C. Way Hoyt’s conclusion.  It is the basis for the phraseology of the Memorandum of Understanding in which both parties agree to removal of the overburden.

How should Overburden Be Removed?
 
This has been the subject of technical discussions among Park management, Park technical experts, and C. Way Hoyt.  A Bid Request was issued and potential contractors have responded.

There is recognition that the method selected must not only remove overburden without damage to roots, but must also minimize the impact of the work itself on Park visitors.  Therefore, it seems likely that work will be scheduled later in 2009 at a time when attendance is minimal. The method to be used is still being considered by Park management.

As always, for more information, please contact us. Thank you!