Communities Have Stopped This Before

The Army Corps planned to remove 700+ trees, including heritage oaks over 100 years old, along the Lower American River for levee reinforcement.

Hundreds marched along the river. The grassroots organization American River Trees formed. The Center for Biological Diversity filed a federal lawsuit arguing the Corps failed to analyze less destructive alternatives like bioengineering with rock. 900 public comments were submitted.

Why it matters for BPC: Same agency (Army Corps), same justification (levee/flood infrastructure), same question — were alternatives actually explored?

The Army Corps proposed a $4.6 billion, 20-foot concrete seawall along Biscayne Bay for storm surge protection. The plan was almost entirely gray infrastructure — concrete and steel — threatening the bayfront environment, mangrove habitat, and waterfront trees.

Intense public uproar followed. Miami Waterkeeper, the Mayor's office, the Downtown Development Authority, and community groups rejected the plan and demanded nature-based solutions. Miami-Dade County formally rejected the Corps plan.

Why it matters for BPC: A massive resilience project — bigger than ours — was completely redesigned because the community demanded better. The Corps can change course.

After Hurricane Katrina, the Army Corps enacted a policy requiring removal of all trees within 15 feet of federal levees — the same rule BPCA is now citing. California alone faced $7.8 billion in compliance costs. Thousands of trees were threatened nationwide.

Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity, and Friends of the River filed a federal lawsuit under NEPA and the Endangered Species Act. Independent experts testified that no levee failure had ever been caused by a tree. Communities protested across the country.

Why it matters for BPC: This is the exact rule BPCA cites as justification. It was reversed nationally. And BPC's project uses concrete walls and steel sheet piles — not earthen levees — making the rule even less applicable here.

The Army Corps told the city that all 1,000+ mature pines along the Rosenberry Drive levee had to be removed under the national levee vegetation policy.

A community petition campaign launched through MoveOn.org. Residents lobbied while awaiting the national policy review.

Why it matters for BPC: Trees on a levee, same Army Corps rule, community pushed back, and the vast majority were saved. Direct parallel to our situation.

The National Park Service planned to remove about 3 acres of trees to "rehabilitate" Potomac River views. Workers had already removed 200-300 native trees, including trees not even designated for removal.

Community leaders called the actions "appalling." The Potomac Conservancy organized a public letter. A local park volunteer documented the unauthorized removals and environmental advocates mobilized quickly.

Why it matters for BPC: Even after cutting had already started, public pressure stopped it. It's not too late.