The Greenspace Insider

Volume 1, Number 2 August, 2001

Greenspaces Key Role as a Member of the California Oak Mortality Task Force
In 1994 Greenspace discovered pitch canker, a fungal disease of pines, in the Cambria forest and subsequently was a co founder of the Statewide Pitch Canker Task Force (PCTF). The PCTF is part of the California Forest Pest Council that is the official advisory body to the California Board of Forestry. Our interest and activity on the PCTF provided leadership in public education, greenwaste, and decision-maker awareness throughout 21 California counties affected by this tree disease. Now a new plant disease has invaded California and the California Forest Pest Council has responded by creating a new task force called the California Oak Mortality Task Force (COMTF). The disease is called Sudden Oak Death (SOD) and is so dubbed because of the trees rapid foliage change from green to brown. SOD is killing tens of thousands of native oak trees in 8 counties in California. These counties include Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey. Sudden Oak Death is caused by a previously unknown species of Phytophthora. While Phytophthora is a plant disease and has 60 known varieties, this strain has never been seen before and was first identified by Dr. David Rizzo, a plant pathologist at UC Davis last year. Based on our knowledge concerning pitch canker, Greenspace was asked to be a member of a COMTF committee dealing with dead and dying trees. The name of this committee is the Biomass Committee. Greenspace also volunteered to participate on the COMTFs Education Committee. We regularly attend both committee meetings and the general California Oak Mortality Task Force Meetings. So far SOD has not been identified in San Luis Obispo County. However, a major infestation is located a few miles to the north in Monterey County. This infestation is located in Big Sur and affects predominately tanoak and some woody plant understory species. Oak trees that are affect by SOD are coast live oak, California black oak, Shreve oak, and tanoak. The disease that causes SOD in oaks also infects a number of other plant species but usually does not cause death. These plant species include rhododendron, huckleberry, California bay laurel, madrone, buckeye and arrowwood. Symptoms include wilting and leaf spotting. Symptoms to watch for if you have oak species susceptible to SOD are: 1. 2. 3. Bleeding or seeping of a dark sticky fluid near the base of affected oaks; Boring dust or frass from bark beetles and ambrosia beetles that tunnel into the trees bark and woody tissues; Domed shaped bodies of a fungal disease called Hypoxylon. These domed shaped bodies are green when new and turn black later in there life cycle. Hypoxylon is nearly always associated with SOD. Symptom 1 Symptom 2 Symptom 3

If you notice any of these conditions please contact the County Agricultural Commissioner at 781-5910 or the UC Cooperative Extension office at 781-5940. A few precautions need to be taken to protect our county and your property from this deadly disease. Recommendations include: Do not buy affected oak species firewood that originates within the 8 infested counties listed above and transport it anywhere. Do not buy affected oak species firewood of unknown origin locally. When traveling in infested counties do not bring home any tree parts including acorns. When recreating in infested counties rinse hiking shoes, bicycle tires, and other recreational equipment that comes in contact with soil. This includes four-wheel drive vehicles. The following websites contain current information about Sudden Oak Death or links to other relevant sites: www.suddenoakdeath.org, http:/ /cemarin.ucdavis.edu, http://camfer.cnr.berkeley.edu/oaks, www.greenspacecambria.org. If your organization would like to have a 20-minute presentation on Sudden Oak Death, please call the Greenspace office.
Credits: Photos - Marin Firesafe; Portions of text - UC Cooperative Extension Marin County, Pest Alert #4a

Local Land Conservation Since 1988

U.S. Bulk R ate PAID Permit No. 37 Cambria, CA 93428 Non-Profit Organization

Post Office Box 1505 Cambria, California 93428 (805) 927-2866 - Phone (805) 927-7530 - Fax www.GreenspaceCambria.org

Recipient of 2001 National Arbor Day Project Award