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June 2, 2014
June 2014
Welcome!
This is the first edition of the California Forest Pest Council newsletter, dedicated to issues related to California urban and wildland forests.  Distributed monthly, the newsletter will highlight  information addressing current and emerging issues in forest health.  

Swiss Needle Cast in California?

US Forest Service aerial surveys conducted in April to determine the extent and severity of Swiss needle cast (SNC - caused by the fungus
Phaeocryptopus gaeumannii) along the coast of  northern California found very few symptomatic areas.  Those that were observed were near the Oregon border.  The first survey for SNC in California was conducted in 2013 with similar outcomes.  It was flown in response to ground reports of the disease in the Arcata area.  For more information on the CA SNC survey, go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprd3801061.pdf or contact Zachary Heath at zheath@fs.fed.us.  For more information on SNC, go to http://sncc.forestry.oregonstate.edu/.

2014 Farm Bill Designates Insect and Disease Areas 

The 2014 Farm Bill amended the Healthy Forest Restoration Act with a new provision to designate priority projects on federal land that reduce insect and disease risks and impacts.  California's designated areas include McCloud/Pit River, South Fork American River, and Santa Ana watersheds.  Oregon designations include the Curry County sudden oak death infestation.  Areas identified were done so in collaboration with the states and allow the Forest Service to more quickly plan projects for insect and disease treatments in an effort to increase the pace and scale of restoration across the National Forest System. For more information, go to http://www.fs.fed.us/farmbill/areadesignations.shtml

California Pest Observation Database Pilot

The California Pest Observation Database Application (PODA) will be piloted this summer by pest specialists with the USFS Forest Health Protection and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.  The intent of PODA is to offer an efficient and continuous method for capturing and utilizing pest detection data for use in the field as well as the California Forest Pest Conditions Report. Upon completion of the pilot program, the system will be made available to other pest specialists.  For more information, contact Leo Liu at leo.z@lzfgeospatial.com or Sheri Smith at ssmith11@fs.fed.us.

Newsletter feedback and ideas are welcome.  Please submit comments to caforestpestcouncil@gmail.com

Have a safe and happy summer, and remember when camping to
Buy It Where You Burn It

Sincerely,

Katie Palmieri
Communications Director  
California Forest Pest Council
California Forest Pest Council | (510) 847-5482 | caforestpestcouncil@gmail.com |

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