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A public workshop on tree mortality in the Sierra Nevada has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 10. The morning session will be held in the Amador County Board of Supervisors Chambers, at 810 Court Street, in Jackson, followed by an afternoon field trip to the Peterson Ranch Subdivision, near Pine Grove (behind the Dollar General store).

Due to the extended drought, tree mortality from both disease and insect attack is a state-wide issue that warranted the Governor’s proclamation of a State of Emergency in 2015. Since then, there has been a dramatic increase in tree mortality throughout much of the Sierra Nevada on both public and private land. Recognition of this situation has motivated local governments to take action to both participate in statewide efforts to address the problem and to secure funding for treatments on county land. It has also created the impetus to hold this workshop. The workshop is directed mainly at private landowners who have experienced significant mortality on their property. It is also directed at landowners who need to know how to diagnose potential problems and if possible, take steps to reduce their risk.

The workshop will present information on the extent of tree mortality in the Sierra Nevada. It will include presentations by the Amador County Board of Supervisors, CAL FIRE and specialists in financial and technical assistance available to private property owners. The field trip will be held to observe tree mortality and receive instruction on diagnosing problems.

The workshop agenda (subject to change) includes:

8:30 a.m. Welcome – Introductions – Housekeeping

Dr. Richard Harris, Northern California Society of American Foresters

Jan Bray & Anne Heissenbuttel, CalAm Forestry Team

8:45 a.m. The Tree Mortality Task Force and Extent of Mortality in the Counties

Chris Anthony, CAL FIRE, Statewide Tree Mortality Task Force, and

Tom Tinsley, CAL FIRE Unit Forester, Amador-El Dorado Unit

9:20 a.m. Amador County Government Response to the Tree Mortality Emergency

Amador County Supervisors Lynn Morgan and Richard Forster

9:45 a.m. Utilities’ Response to the Tree Mortality Emergency

Cory Peters, Vegetation Program Manager, Pacific Gas & Electric Company

10 a.m. Panel: Timber Industry Response to the Tree Mortality Emergency

Dr. Richard Harris, Moderator

10:45 a.m. U.S. Forest Service Response to the Tree Mortality Emergency

Rick Hopson, Amador District Ranger, Eldorado National Forest

11 a.m. Financial and Technical Assistance Available to Private Landowners

Amy Rocha, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and

Stewart McMorrow, CAL FIRE – Stewardship Forester

11:20 a.m. Panel: Role of the Registered Professional Forester

Dr. Richard Harris, Moderator

11:50 a.m. Causes of Tree Mortality

Beverly Bulaon, U.S. Forest Service, Forest Entomologist

12:10 p.m. Protecting High Value Trees

Steve McKelvey, Foothill Tree Service

12:30 p.m. Depart for field – Peterson Ranch, Pine Grove

1 p.m. Diagnosing Tree Disease and Insect Problems in the Field

Beverly Bulaon and Steve McKelvey

3 p.m. Adjourn — Safe Travels

Transportation from the conference site to the Peterson Ranch will be the responsibility of attendees. Car-pooling will be encouraged. You should come prepared for a full day and bring your lunch and water. We will eat en route or in the field. Dress appropriately for the afternoon field session in the woods.

Peterson Ranch lies 8.4 miles from the Board of Supervisors Chambers. To get there, attendees should drive east on Highway 88, turn left at the Ridge Road stoplight, turn left again, at Mineral Ridge Road, and proceed towards Peterson Ranch Drive.

The Northern California Society of American Foresters, Amador County Board of Supervisors, CAL FIRE and CalAm Forestry Team are sponsoring this workshop.

This Forest Stewardship Education program is supported in part by a grant from the USDA Forest Service State & Private Forestry. Registration is mandatory. For more information, or to register for the workshop, contact Dr. Richard Harris, at forestryhelp@gmail.com, or call (707) 685-5508.

See the original article in the Amador Leger Dispatch here.