A rare sequoia tree in Sandy will stay put after neighbors persuaded the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to reverse its plan to cut it down.
UDOT confirmed Tuesday, Oct. 13, that the sequoia is off its removal list, as first reported by ABC4. The agency had planned to take the tree down alongside four dead trees on UDOT-owned land. A contractor determined the sequoia showed early signs of beetle damage, which prompted its inclusion in the removal plan.
Sandy resident Mark Selig, who has lived next to the sequoia for years, spoke up. Selig told ABC4 he understood UDOT owns the land but did not understand why a living tree had to go. He described the sequoia as a gathering place for local raptors and other birds that bring their young to the treetop each year to learn to fly.
"This is where some of the local raptors come and bring their babies up there to the top of the tree to learn to fly every year," Selig told ABC4.
Sequoias are exceptionally rare in Utah, and the Sandy tree stands out for its size, according to ABC4. Dozens of bird species use the tree, with some nesting in its branches and others perching there.
After residents voiced their attachment to the tree and stressed that it remains alive and is an important part of their neighborhood, UDOT reversed course. UDOT's John Gleason said the agency is happy to leave the tree in place if it matters to the neighborhood and hopes it will stand for years to come.
Selig said he is "ecstatic" about the decision. He told ABC4 he gets to sit on his porch every day with a cup of coffee and watch his tree.
No monitoring plan or follow-up inspection for the sequoia has been announced. UDOT has not said whether the beetle concern will be reassessed.
