By Jeff Odom
After further review, it’s a champion after all.
The gigantic Laurel oak tree, which sits in a drainage easement next to 18306 Swan Lake Drive inside the Windemere subdivision in Lutz, was nominated to be a Florida Champion Tree by Hillsborough County environmental code enforcement officer and certified arborist Lori Moreda.
Workers discovered the tree’s enormous size while clearing out heavy brush from its surrounding alleyway earlier this year, and Moreda decided to take a quick measurement to see if it could qualify.
However, Charlie Marcus of the state’s forestry service came out to establish the official measurements of the 80-year-old oak, and initial results concluded it was the largest in the county but just a few points shy of being a standalone champion tied between two others in Florida.
Moreda, a 28-year veteran of the county, was disappointed in the results, but wasn’t about to settle for second place.
On March 28, Moreda and her team went back to the location to see if they could do another independent measurement just to make sure there weren’t any flaws on the official measurements.
Marcus originally estimated the tree’s height at 75 feet through his clinometer, but that measurement was off by about seven feet.
Moreda wanted to be absolutely sure of the height, so she had Richard Cervi of Cervi and Associates climb the tree to measure it directly.
“(His) measurement was 82 feet,” Moreda said. “Then, Eric Hoyer, longtime certified arborist and forester, visually measured the tree at 84 feet tall with his clinometer. … (The tree) is now the certified new state champion tree.”
The champion tree program was created by the American Forests organization in 1940 to recognize the largest known tree of each species in the United States. Florida has the most national champion trees with 111.
Moreda said Davey, the company that first discovered the tree and was on hand to witness the second measurement, is considering assisting in the preservation of the oak by offering routine maintenance to the surrounding area, mulch and a possible fence to ensure protection.
In an interview with The Laker/Lutz News last month, Moreda said she had never seen a tree that could withstand the beatings of the state’s ever-changing climate and yearly threat of hurricanes and tropical storms.
“I was amazed at how big she was, because laurels don’t typically get that big,” Moreda said. “She’s a real beauty, and it’s unbelievable to see she’s survived all of the hurricanes and storms that we’ve had over the years.”
For more information on Florida Champion Trees or to nominate a candidate, call (850) 921-0300 or visit www.floridaforestservice.com.
