Storm Strikes Madison: Goodbye To ‘Solo’ Tree At B.B. Clarke Beach

I was outside this afternoon as the storm moved across the isthmus.  While others go inside when storm clouds gather I tend to go in the opposite direction.  Wild weather draws me closer to the action.   Today James was outside with me as the thunder rumbled, and the clouds thickened and lowered in the sky.

Our friendly mailman was wondering if his rounds would be completed before the rains came.  I was doubtful, but gave him words of hope all the same.  About 15 minutes before the first raindrop landed a huge wind bank thrust itself over Lake Monona and churned the water into whitecaps.  James and I ventured head-first into the gusty and demanding winds to B.B. Clarke Beach.  No sooner had we made it down into the park than right in front of our eyes, in sllloooowwww motion, a huge tree let go of the shoreline and landed on the ground.   I have never seen something like that before in real-time.  The wet soil, along with the huge root structure made for the slow motion movement of the tree’s ending.   (I can hear my mom saying what in heaven’s name were you doing out in a storm!)

The tree was featured this year on my blog.     I had named the photo ‘Solo’ as it stood by itself along that section of the shoreline.

I knew the roots of the tree had been exposed, and there was no way it could last very long.  But I thought it would fall in the dark of  night, during a blizzard, or heavy rainfall, but never right in front of my eyes.  We ran to where it rested, and asked the lady who was just feet away practicing Tai Chi if she was alright.  She seemed more serene than I would be if a huge tree plopped down alongside me.  I guess her meditation really works!

On August 9th I again urged action from the City of Madison, my local alder, and the citizens to make sure that our shoreline has a remedy to prevent the very thing that happened today.  I wrote, “ What we need is for city engineering to move ahead, and have the urging of our alder for a plan that can be submitted to the permitting process with the DNR.  The city council has already voted money for a project.  Bottom line for me, and all those who care about this matter is short and quite straightforward.  When will we actually have a remedy installed on the shoreline to meet the needs that exist?”

Today I can report what the lack of action looks like.