People take photos of"Stumpy" the cherry tree at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC on March 19, 2024. Stumpy, along with some 140 cherry trees, will be removed as part of a seawall rehabilitation project.Many of Washington's iconic flowering cherry trees will be cut down because of climate change.
Stumpy the mascot dances near 'Stumpy' the cherry tree at the tidal basin in Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2024. The weakened tree is experiencing its last peak bloom before being removed for a renovation project that will rebuild seawalls around Tidal Basin and West Potomac Park.Over the last century, sea levels in the Washington, D.C. area have risen by more than a foot, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The project will work on repairing the seawalls around the Tidal Basin and along the Potomac River through West Potomac Park. The "critical investment" will shield the park from rising sea levels over the next century, officials said.