"The State of the Sierra Nevada's Forests," released by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy in September, highlights the dire conditions of California's Sierra Nevada region and how those 

King Fire 2014. By T. Webster.

conditions impact all Californians. According to the report, well over 6 million acres of open space land are in need of restoration. With climate change, drought conditions, and overstocked forests, acres burned annually by fires continue to increase, with more land burning in the first 4.5 years of this decade than the previous 7 decades. The 2013 Rim Fire, the largest Sierra Nevada fire on record, burned 257,000 acres, producing equivalent greenhouse gas emissions to 2.3 million vehicles over the course of a year. Failure to address Sierra Nevada forest health issues will result in substantial losses to California's water supply, carbon sequestration opportunities, sustainable energy sources, crucial wildlife habitat, recreational

opportunities, and much more, as well as increase costs associated with more frequent firefighting and infrastructure losses.  For more information on report findings, including potential solutions, go to http://www.sierranevada.ca.gov/our-work/docs/StateOfSierraForestsRpt.pdf.

Thousand cankers disease (TCD) is a progressive dieback of walnut and butternut (Juglans) as

English walnut with TCD. By S. Hishinuma.

well as wingnut (Pterocarya) trees caused by the walnut twig beetle (WTB-Pityophthorus  juglandis) and the fungus Geosmithia morbida. WTB has been found in 14 states, Mexico, and northern Italy. Prior to 1960, it had only been identified in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Mexico. Mass attacks by WTB for feeding and gallery construction result in numerous small necrotic areas in the phloem, hence the name thousand cankers.

In the US, TCD has been primarily observed on black walnut (J. nigra); however, in 2008, it was found in an English walnut (J. regia) at the National Clonal Germplasm Repository in Solano County, California. The disease was also confirmed in an English walnut tree growing in Utah at that time. English walnut forms the backbone of the walnut industry in California, with over 245,000 acres yielding approx. $1 billion in annual sales. Since 2008, TCD has been found on numerous cultivars of English walnut in many California orchards, with some of the highest infection rates in Solano, Tulare, and Yolo Counties.  Movement of firewood or untreated wood from infested orchards is not advisable as it presents a risk for TCD spread. It is anticipated that TCD will lead to nut production reductions and increased costs to growers as dead trees will have to be removed and replaced.

Local pests field stop with Sutherland. By K. Harrell.

The CFPC Urban Forest Insect and Disease Workshop offered to South Bay arborists September 30th in Woodside was a sell out with 48 registrants. Thank you to San Mateo County Parks, Jasper Ridge Biological Reserve at Stanford University, and all who participated.  Presentations covered invasive species in California such as the goldspotted oak borer, sudden oak death, pitch canker, and the polyphagous shot hole borer as well as invasives not yet in California, including laurel wilt, emerald ash borer, and Asian longhorned beetle.  Regional issues of concern and evaluating for hazardous trees were also covered.  As the demand for the session was high, the CFPC will be looking into options for future training sessions.