D.C. golf course tree-cutting phase begins; 529 removals proposed

A new phase of tree cutting began Oct. 10 at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, as the National Park Service proposes removing 529 trees from the public golf course. The 529 figure is the project’s proposed total, not a count of trees already removed.

The Associated Press reported that the Park Service had begun another round of cutting, and NBC Washington reported seeing crews remove trees that Saturday. The cited reports did not give a count for removals during the new phase.

The Park Service’s project inventory divides the proposed removals into about 382 trees more than 10 inches in diameter and 147 smaller trees. Reports on a government court filing identify 169 trees for an initial phase and 90 for a later phase. Those figures do not account for the full proposed inventory; the reports did not give a start date for the later phase or explain which phase covers the remaining trees.

What the Park Service says the work will do

The Park Service describes the project as selective vegetation management and cultural-landscape rehabilitation. Its stated aims include restoring open fairways and historic views, managing invasive or volunteer growth, and preserving historic or character-defining vegetation. The agency also says targeted replacement planting may be appropriate.

The agency says compatible historic vegetation, including historic cherry trees, will be preserved. It also says the work will not change the course’s existing use or fundamental configuration, add buildings or expand its developed footprint. Those are the Park Service’s descriptions of its plan, not an independent assessment of each tree.

The Park Service says the tree project is separate from a possible course redesign, but preservation plaintiffs and local golfers dispute that distinction. The Washington Post reported that the administration had not released a final redesign as of Oct. 9. A court filing described 20 to 50 temporary workers and additional funding to accelerate the work; the Post did not report the funding amount or source.

The course remained open during the cutting, according to the AP, although individual holes could temporarily close while work is underway.

Lawsuit and court notice

Preservationists and local golfers have sued over the administration’s broader plans for the course, arguing that the proposed reconstruction would violate the law establishing the park. The government argues that the Park Service has authority to manage the property and that the tree work does not commit it to a future design. The lawsuit and the government’s request to dismiss it remained unresolved in reports published around Oct. 10.

The Washington Post reported that a judge declined in September to stop earlier tree removal but had asked the government to give advance notice before removing more than 10 trees or bringing large equipment onto the course. That earlier decision did not resolve the lawsuit or rule on the October work. NBC Washington reported that the DC Preservation League alleged the administration’s action violated promises made to the court; that is the league’s allegation, not a court finding.

The Post also reported that government counsel said 150 trees had been removed by Sept. 1. Officials characterized 77 as invasive and 73 as dead, dying or hazardous. The relationship between that earlier count and the proposed 529-tree inventory is unclear, so the figures should not be added together.

A Washington Area Bicyclists Association representative called for public involvement, transparency and accountability, NBC Washington reported. The Park Service’s stated case for the work is that it will rehabilitate the historic landscape; the plaintiffs contend the tree work is part of a broader redevelopment. Those competing positions remain unresolved in court.