Sudden Oak Death Webinar Recordings
Did you miss the What’s Happening with Sudden Oak Death in Curry County Webinar series held on April 11 and 18th? This two-part series was recorded and can be viewed anytime. Here is a quick overview: In the first session, Sarah Navarro, USFS Regional Sudden Oak Death Pathologist, gave a general overview of sudden oak death. Sarah’s presentation covered what sudden oak death is, how it spreads, symptoms to look out for, treatment approaches and the economic impacts. Sarah also discussed the Sudden Oak Death Task Force, an incredible partnership that includes private landowners, state and federal agencies as well as nonprofits and the Oregon State University LeBoldus Lab and Extension. All who are key players in finding solutions to slow the spread of the pathogen. View the recording here: https://media.oregonstate.edu/media/t/1_0h0hoqd5
In the second session, Randy Wiese and Quinn Allen with the Oregon Department of Forestry discussed survey and sampling methods. It was interesting to hear about their work exploring the use of drones to help find infested tanoaks. Drones could really be helpful, as currently they travel to each suspected tanoaks on foot! Once a potentially infested tanoak is found, they take a small sample from beneath the bark and insert it into sterile media in a petri dish that is then sent to the lab. They then carefully sterilize their tools to avoid cross contamination with future samples. Every tree that is found and sampled is geolocated and recorded in a database. This description of the intensive field work required to find and sample trees was followed by a presentation covering lab diagnostics by Elizabeth (Biz) Stamm with the OSU LeBoldus Lab. Biz covered the multiple steps, equipment and expertise required to assess samples in order to confirm sudden oak death. Biz also showed us some nice images of Phytophthora ramorum as seen through a microscope.
Finally, Dr. Ebba Peterson, with the OSU LeBoldus Lab presented first year results and future directions of a project lead by Dr. Jared LeBoldus, looking at how loss of tanoak will impact biodiversity in SW Oregon forests. This is an important question that many folks have had in regard to effects of tanoak mortality on pollinators, wildlife habitat, and the wider interconnected ecosystem. I’m looking forward to future updates from this long term study. View the recording here: https://media.oregonstate.edu/media/t/1_ehbb39wl
New Emerald Ash Borer Publication: Alternatives to Ash in Western Oregon
By now, most of you have probably heard about the infestation of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Forest Grove, Oregon. This was a significant finding as it was the first detection of EAB in Oregon. EAB has killed ash throughout the United States. Once EAB is established in an area, it is extremely difficult to control as it can fly for miles to infest new trees. In Oregon, we are particularly concerned about the fate of our Oregon Ash. Oregon Ash is an important riparian tree throughout our region and has been planted extensively in riparian restoration projects. If EAB were to become widely established in Oregon, Oregon Ash mortality would leave significant gaps in riparian areas that could then easily be filled with invasive plants. Restoration practitioners are particularly interested in what riparian species they should plant in restoration sites to avoid large-scale restoration failures if EAB were to infest the site. Here is a practical OSU Extension publication that helps answer these questions: Alternatives to Ash in Western Oregon. https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/em9396
For a general overview of Oregon Ash tree health, check out Oregon Ash: Insects, Pathogens and Tree Health. https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/em9380
