The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider
An electronic newsletter of breaking news and valuable information for the Urban Forest community in Wisconsin and beyond.
Forest Health Specialist Linda Williams was one of a number of DNR Forestry staff to answer questions.
Photo by Jeff Roe, WDNR
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October 17, 2008
This issue's contents:
Special Feature
In the News
- U.S. Forest Service Challenge "Fund It or Forget It"
- Scientists Tap into Tree Power -The Boston Globe
Emerald Ash Borer
- Comments Requested for Special Ash Tree Pesticide Registration
- Wisconsin EAB Situation Weekly Report #4
- Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Delta County
- Arborist & Municipal Foresters Visit EAB Site
- Purdue Emerald Ash Borer Cost Calculator
Specifically Wisconsin
Tools For Your Job
- Northeast Region Forest Pest Update
- Grants to Help Deal with Urban Wildlife Damage
- Job Opportunity - Arborist, Waukesha
- Job Opportunity - Urban Forester, Missoula, Montana
Conferences & Seminars
EAB Stories Shared. . . Lessons Learned - Replanting
This is the eighth entry in a ten part series compiled by DNR urban forestry staff who visited Michigan and Ohio communities dealing firsthand with EAB infestations. These entries bring to you stories shared by these communities, and offer supplemental information such as specific examples, documents, web sites and ideas you can implement to play a proactive role in facing the threat of EAB.
“Start filling your open planting spaces NOW. Playing catch-up after EAB hits is impossible.”
Replanting After EAB [PDF, 68KB] - EAB Stories Shared... Lessons Learned
U.S. Forest Service Challenge "Fund It or Forget It"
The Center for Resilient Cities' (based in Madison, Wisconsin) recently published report, “Resilient Urban Forests: How the U.S. Forest Service Can Engage Urban America,” recognizes the U.S.
Forest Service’s potential to directly inspire and develop climate protection actions for people
living in cities. However, the key to moving forward is the agency’s Urban and Community
Forestry program, which has historically lacked sufficient leadership and funds.
Recommendations stemming from the report include:
- Expanding urban forestry alliances and range of influence
- Branding the urban forest for climate protection
- Articulating a national urban forest agenda
- Solving the money riddle, and
- Properly funding (or forgetting) the federal Urban and Community Forestry program
USDA Urban Forestry Program [Exit DNR]
Scientists Tap into Tree Power -The Boston Globe
Scientists have solved a long-standing mystery behind the source of a faint electrical current in trees - and it wasn't as hard as they thought. A team of MIT scientists, using platinum electrodes and everyday ficus house plants, have found that the faint current actually comes from an imbalance in pH between the soil and a living tree. And that discovery is already sparking discussions about novel ways to use that electricity - including as a power source for a tree's own fire alarm.
Comments Requested for Special Ash Tree Pesticide Registration
Ash tree owners, tree care specialists and urban foresters will be able to better control emerald ash borer in ash trees under a special pesticide registration proposed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Under this proposed registration, licensed pesticide applicators could inject the insecticide TREE-äge (TREE-ahzh) into the trunks of ash trees (Fraxinus species) to control emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis).
Wisconsin EAB Situation Weekly Report #4
Emerald ash borer has been discovered in two southeast Wisconsin counties: Ozaukee and Washington. A quarantine is currently in effect that covers those two counties and Fond du Lac and Sheboygan counties. The quarantine prohibits the movement of any ash product that could transport a life stage of the emerald ash borer. This also includes all hardwood firewood. An ICS (Incident Command System) has been designated to oversee and guide multi-agency activities in the quarantine area. Each week a situation report is compiled regarding activities.
EAB Weekly Situation Report 4, 10-10-08 [PDF, 12KB]
Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Delta County
Michigan's Cooperative Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Response Project partners have confirmed an EAB infestation was discovered in Delta County in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) by personnel from the United States Department of Agriculture-Forest Service (USDA-FS). The infestation is located in Garden Township along U.S. Highway 2 near the Village of Garden Corners.
"The discovery of EAB in Delta County is disappointing, but not unexpected," said Ken Rauscher, Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division Director, Michigan Department of Agriculture. "We are currently reviewing the Delta County infestation and are considering quarantine and management options."
Arborist & Municipal Foresters Visit EAB Site
In September the Wisconsin DNR urban forestry and forest health staff organized a field trip for municipal foresters to view the EAB infestation first hand in Newburg, WI. Following the success of that field trip, where 91 municipal foresters gathered to see EAB signs and symptoms, the Wisconsin Arborist Association approached DNR about hosting a similar event for commercial arborists.
Purdue Emerald Ash Borer Cost Calculator
This program helps estimate out-of-pocket expenses associated with a particular management strategy over a 25 year period for trees. The calculator uses the tree sizes provided in an inventory of ash trees to costs associated with insecticide applications and tree removal. The model adjusts the size of the ash trees over time because it assumes that the ash trees treated with insecticide with survive and grow.
EAB Cost Calculator [Exit DNR]
Key to Wisconsin Woody Plants for the iPod
"The Key to Wisconsin Woody Plants for the iPod is an easy-to-use, highly portable guide to all native trees and shrubs of the state, as well as common exotic species. Navigate through the dichotomous key using iPod's click-wheel to identify an unknown plant species, and verify your ID with color images!"
The free key was developed by Catherine Woodward and Corey Hart at the UW-Madison. Check it out!
Northeast Region Forest Pest Update
October Pest Update by Linda Williams
Topics include:
Insects:
- Emerald Ash Borer update
- EAB in the UP
- Reporting EAB
- Gypsy Moth
- Ladybugs
- Pigeon Horntail
Diseases:
- Beech Bark Disease Management Guidelines
Other:
- Firewood movement and quarantines
- Tick info
Grants to Help Deal with Urban Wildlife Damage
Communities experiencing damage problems associated with herds of white-tailed deer and/or flocks of Canada geese have until Dec. 1, 2008 to apply for match grants to develop long-term management solutions for dealing with urban wildlife. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is now accepting grant applications for the Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement and Control Grant Program. The program was created to foster and encourage communities to solve wildlife control problems by awarding 50/50 reimbursement grants up to a maximum of $5,000.
Job Opportunity - Arborist, Waukesha
Performs arborist duties to plant, prune, maintain, and repair trees. Identify pest/disease conditions. Climb trees with gear. Operate aerial tower, chipper, stumper, loaders and trucks. May assist in snow removal operations. High school or equivalent, two years of professional tree experience, ability to secure and maintain a Wisconsin Pesticide Certification Category 3, must be able to obtain (within 6 months of hire) and maintain a CDL with ABC endorsements and have an excellent driving record. Must pass a physical including drug screen. Waukesha County residency within 1 year of hire. Written exam. MUST complete an application form. Mail form to Human Resources, Room 205, Waukesha City Hall, 201 Delafield Street, Waukesha, WI 53188 or fax (262) 650-2572 by 4:00 P.M., October 31, 2008.
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Job Opportunity - Urban Forester, Missoula, Montana
Under general direction, manages the comprehensive tree and flowerbed planting, pruning and maintenance program for public lands, developed commuter trails and medians in the City of Missoula, Montana
Missoula Urban Forester [Exit DNR]
Pesticide Training
Minnesota Turf and Grounds Foundation is offering pesticide application recertification training for categories A and E, Turf and Ornamentals and for category F, Aquatics, for applicators who are also certified for E. Even if you aren’t in need of recertification, but would like to learn more about pesticide usage, please feel free to attend this workshop. Topics include:
- Minnesota Department of Agriculture Update: New issues and Record Keeping
- Diseases in the Flowers of Landscape
- 35 Years On - The Changing Face of Dutch Elm Disease
- Cultural Control of Turfgrass Diseases
- Environmental Fate of Turfgrass Herbicides
- Pesticide Exposure and Long Term Health Concerns
- Common Landscape Insects and their Management
- Managing Aquatic Pests
More Conferences & Seminars
For more conferences and seminars check out WDNR's Urban Forest website.
About the Insider
The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Insider is intended as a quick networking tool for all people actively working in the area of urban and community forestry, especially in the state of Wisconsin.
Items that cannot wait for our quarterly print newsletter, Wisconsin Urban & Community Forests, will appear here.
The Insider is produced biweekly by the Urban and Community Forestry program of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin. Past issues will be archived on the UF pages on the WDNR web site.
We are happy to accept your suggestions and contributions. Send them to the editor, at Laura.Wyatt@Wisconsin.gov. Or call her: 608/267-0568.
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