The famous cherry blossoms around D.C.’s Tidal Basin are in full bloom this week, but for 158 of them, it will be their final bloom. This year’s cherry blossom celebrations in Washington will be the last for Stumpy and over 100 other cherry trees, which will be cut down as part of a multiyear restoration of their Tidal Basin habitat.
Every spring, millions of people flock to Washington, D.C., to take selfies among the cherry blossoms; some even get engaged. That is what Jody Axinn did about 20 years ago. According to Axinn, the romantic spot she remembers is no longer recognizable.
“The part that we got engaged in is now underwater. The whole path, the whole section, it’s underwater,” Axinn says. “I come down and tell my kids, ‘Children, Dad, and I got engaged in that watery area.”
The cherry trees around the Tidal Basin were planted over a century ago as a gift from the mayor of Tokyo
Every day, twice a day, during high tide, portions of the walkway around the Tidal Basin flood with several inches of water. Some of the approximately 2,500 cherry trees in the basin have water lapping at their exposed roots, while others are completely submerged. Many park benches are partially submerged.
“When I got here 10 years or so ago, it was a regular occurrence, but certainly not twice a day, every day,” says Mike Litterst, a spokesperson for the National Park Service. “The only variable now is how far inland is the water going to go on any given day.”
The cherry trees around the Tidal Basin were planted over a century ago as a gift from the mayor of Tokyo and a symbol of international friendship.
Two forces are working together to undermine the Tidal Basin, as well as the surrounding trees and monuments. The land around the basin, which was built with mud dredged from the Potomac River bottom, is sinking. This has allowed the land to settle by approximately five feet over the last century. At the same time, the water level has risen by more than a foot due to climate change.
“Combining those two factors, you now have water six feet above where the seawall was originally designed to keep it out,” Litterst says.
The Tidal Basin resembles a small lake, but it is part of the Potomac River. There are gates at the upstream and downstream ends of the basin that allow river water to flow through, ebbing and flowing with the tide. Because the river is tidal, it is gradually rising in tandem with the global ocean level, as ice sheets and glaciers melt as a result of fossil fuel combustion.
According to the National Park Service, this year’s cherry blossoms peaked at the second-earliest date on record. The average peak bloom date has shifted about a week earlier in recent years as a result of climate change.
Later this spring, the park service will begin construction on a major project to raise sections of the walkway around the basin and along the Potomac River. According to officials, the new seawall will be tall enough to withstand approximately 100 years of future sea level rise. It’s designed to be built on top of, if necessary.
One of the trees that will be removed is the well-known Stumpy
Litterst claims that the $113 million project cannot be completed without removing the trees along the water.
“The problem is if we don’t fix the seawall, we’re losing trees every year because of the water. They can’t be replanted until we fix the source of the problem,” Litterst says.
The project is scheduled to be completed in 2027. In the meantime, the Tidal Basin’s northern and eastern sides will remain open to the public. After the project is completed, 274 new cherry trees will be planted.
One of the trees that will be removed is the well-known “Stumpy.”
It’s a scraggly tree with a mostly rotted trunk. At high tide, the tree’s base becomes flooded. However, every spring, Stumpy’s three or four small branches bloom, with the Washington Monument in the background.
“I just fell in love with Stumpy,” says Debby Swope, an eighth-grade history teacher visiting from Oregon. “Stumpy is my emotional support tree in Washington, D.C. He just represents perseverance, courage, and cuteness.”
Still, looking at Stumpy during high tide, Swope sees the need for the project. “His feet are wet,” she says.
Stumpy and other low-lying trees will be removed to make room for construction equipment. However, clippings from the famous tree will be sent to the National Arboretum to propagate new trees.