Since 2020 researchers have collected data on the distribution and extent of western redcedar (WRC) dieback across the Pacific Northwest. This team effort by Christine Buhl (Oregon Department of
Forestry Entomologist), Melissa Fischer (Washington DNR Entomologist), Betsy Goodrich (US Forest Service
Pathologist), and other collaborators was funded by the U.S. Forest Service Evaluation and Monitoring Program. The project was initiated after WRC dieback symptoms were observed by landowners and forest health specialists from Oregon to western Canada. Symptoms of WRC dieback include thinning crowns, branch dieback, topkill and even mortality. Don’t confuse the normal seasonal fall dieback of older foliage with WRC dieback. Read more about WRC dieback, research, data collection and results to date in the WRC dieback story board here. Of particular interest are implications related to species selection for timber and restoration planting efforts. WRC does best in areas within the coastal fogbelt and inland areas below 4000 feet with sufficient moisture. In areas where WRC dieback is observed there may be environmental conditions causing stress to WRC including drought, heat, exposure and crowding. The authors suggest that we may be seeing a potential shift in the range of WRC depending on changing conditions.

WRC Storymap of project summary and results. Betsy Goodrich (USFS R6), Melissa Fischer (WADNR), Christine Buhl (ODF): https://tinyurl.com/WRCStorymap