13,000-Year-Old Oak Tree in Danger as California Urban Development Proposal Covers Area, Advocates Worry

Advocates are concerned about a proposed urban expansion in California that will include the location of the world's oldest tree, a 13,000-year-old oak tree in Jurupa.

Oldest Tree on Earth

Near the last Ice Age's end, a 13,000-year-old Palmer's oak thrived amidst Jurupa Hills, Riverside County. This ancient shrubby oak's uniqueness lies in its infertility, necessitating clonal growth, and drawing sustenance from rainwater in rock crevices. Dr. Norman Ellsrand, a UC Riverside botany professor, imagines this enduring oak witnessing saber-toothed tigers and mastodons if it had eyes.

However, urbanization looms as the city of Jurupa Valley considers a developer's proposal for the Rio Vista master-planned community. A recent environmental impact report sparks concern among researchers, plant enthusiasts, and tribal leaders. They fear for the oak's survival on its isolated stony pedestal, encroaching urban sprawl.

California's New Urban Development Proposal

A proposed development in Jurupa Valley entails 1,697 homes, commercial spaces, schools, parks, and an equestrian center, with measures to protect a 13,000-year-old oak tree. However, oak advocates argue that these measures fall short.

Nick Jensen, of the California Native Plant Society, worries about the tree's unusual requirements for survival. The development may bring wildfires, pollution, trampling, pathogens, and invasive species, potentially harming the oak.

The plan restricts heavy machinery within 259 feet of the oak to prevent subsurface damage. Management of the 23-acre area around the oak may be handed to a homeowners association, county authorities, or a local conservation entity, which includes the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians-Kizh Nation.

The oak holds great cultural significance for the tribe, and 44 acres around it are a sacred site recognized by the Native American Heritage Commission. Tribal biologist Matthew Teutimez opposes the development, emphasizing the importance of the entire ceremonial landscape used for thousands of years.

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13,000-Year-Old Jurupa Oak Tree

Palmer's oak is not endangered and it typically thrives in canyon lands from the Bay Area to Baja California. However, the 4-foot-tall Jurupa oak, perched above the Pomona Freeway amidst offroaders' trails, stands as a rare gem. Environmental groups, including the California Native Plant Society, Sierra Club, and Global Conservation Consortium for Oak/The Morton Arboretum, advocate for expansive buffer zones, possibly with a significantly reduced development footprint.

Jurupa Valley planner Jim Pechous underscores the tree's significance, considering it a vital resource for residents, environmentalists, Native Americans, and the nation. Researchers, using growth rings and post-fire shoots, estimate the oak's age at 13,000 years, surpassing the 12,000-year-old Palm Springs creosote bush, bristlecone pines by 8,000 years, and redwoods by 10,000 years, according to UC Davis and UC Riverside scientists.

To verify California's oldest plant, Aaron Echols, conservation chair of the California Native Plant Society's Riverside/San Bernardino chapter, recently navigated steep trails, scaled boulders, and battled sticker weeds, documenting the oak's remarkable presence. The unique Jurupa oak serves as a testament to nature's resilience and the importance of preserving rare ecological wonders in the face of urban expansion.