SAVE THE DATE!September 30 - CFPC South Bay Arborist Training, San Mateo County. ISA credits available. For more information, or to register, go to http://caforestpestcouncil.org/. November 12 - 13 - 2014 CFPC Annual Meeting, McClellan (near Sacramento). More information will be available soon at http://caforestpestcouncil.org/.
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Goldspotted Oak Borer Mortality on the Rise
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Goldspotted oak borer (GSOB)-related oak mortality has been steadily increasing over the last 2 years, likely as a result of the significant drought conditions that have 
persisted the last 3 years. Along the infestation perimeter in San Diego County, GSOB activity has increased in the areas of Ramona, Santa Ysabel, Lake Henshaw, and Ranchita. In addition, well-established GSOB areas in the generally infested region of the county continue to have new waves of die-off. For example, approximately 2,000 GSOB-infested mature oak trees have already been felled in the 929-acre Heise County Park near Julian, yet the park vegetation manager now reports "huge" areas of new mortality. In the Idyllwild area of Riverside County, the number of confirmed GSOB-infested trees is now up to 40 and is being addressed through rapid detection and early response as well as the safe disposal (grinding) of infested wood. For more on GSOB and the newly formed GSOB Task Force, go to http://ucanr.edu/sites/gsobinfo/.
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Grasses Found to Carry Pitch Canker Pathogen
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The pitch canker pathogen, Fusarium circinatum, has been isolated from grass species in Monterey and bishop pine forests on the Monterey Peninsula and at Pt. Reyes National Seashore, respectively. While the infected grasses showed no symptoms, isolates obtained from them were shown to be pathogenic to Monterey pine. Greenhouse inoculation tests documented the susceptibility of four additional grass species native to coastal pine forests. These results indicate that symptomless grasses could serve as bridge hosts, facilitating movement of the pathogen between stands of susceptible pines. Grasses are also of concern as potential cryptic reservoirs of inoculum in pine seedling nurseries. Until recently, F. circinatum was only known to infect pines and Douglas-fir. For more information on the study, contact Tom Gordon at [email protected] or (530) 754-9893.
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The 2013 Rim Fire on the Stanislaus National Forest burned 257,314 acres, making it the third largest wildfire in California history. The US Forest Service Burned Area Emergency Response team has been working since last fall to implement a holistic plan to restore forest health in a manner that promotes fire resiliency while also addressing immediate hazard ous conditions. Accomplishments to date include working on hundreds of miles of roads to restore ditches, repair or replace culverts, and prepare roads for winter. In addition, many archaeological and historic sites have been protected from additional damage from falling trees and erosion. To help protect fragile soils, approximately 4,000 acres have been treated with aerial mulching and 800 acres with ground-based chipping. The recovery plan includes the Rim Hazard Tree project, which is underway and addresses hazard tree removal along 194 miles of roads, recreation facilities, and areas adjacent to private infrastructures, and the Rim Fire Recovery Project, which will allow for fire-related dead fuels reduction through timber salvage. For more on the Rim Fire, go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/stanislaus/home/?cid=stelprd3790883.
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Newsletter feedback and ideas are welcome. Please submit comments to [email protected]. Sincerely,
Katie Palmieri
Communications Director
California Forest Pest Council
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