Texas’ Treaty Oak Faces Major Trimming
About three-fourths of the historic Treaty Oak will be removed next week as foresters trim limbs killed by the deliberate herbicide poisoning of the centuries-old live oak.
Months of intensive treatment saved one large limb system. That section of the tree is flourishing and is expected to live.
The tree was poisoned two years ago with Velpar, a herbicide designed to kill hardwood trees. Paul Stedman Cullen was sentenced in 1990 to nine years in prison for putting the herbicide on the tree, which legend says was the site of a treaty signing between Stephen F. Austin and Indian tribes.
The dead portions, including limbs that are larger than most trees, will be taken to a sawmill and the wood eventually will be used in several city projects, possibly including artistic and fund-raising proposals.
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