RCD program will combat
oak borer in the Back Country

By Susan Hogoboom
The Alpine Sun

     DESCANSO — More than a dozen East County residents gathered Wednesday night, Sept. 9, at the Descanso Town Hall to learn more about the Resource Conservation District’s (RCD) upcoming D3 (Dead, Dying, Diseased) Oak Tree Mortality and Fuels Reduction Program, intended to combat the spread of oak trees’ major predators, the Golden Spotted Oak Borer (GSOB).
     GSOB, Agrilus coxalis, is responsible for the demise of many oak trees in the county, resulting in an 85 to 90 percent mortality rate in the Sherilton Valley/Descanso area alone.
     The dead oak trees are not only an eyesore and contribute to the spread of the beetle but also pose as fire hazards.
RCD, with the help of $3 million in federal grants from the United States Forest Service (USFS), is providing the opportunity to homeowners residing in the 91916 zip code, east of Interstate 8 and west of the 79 corridor, to have dead, dying and diseased trees removed from their properties.
     The free, three-year program will follow strict guidelines. They include but are not limited to the following:
The program will be voluntary to both homeowners and to RCD.
Oak or Pine trees with a trunk diameter of six inches will be considered for removal. According to Orson Bevins, Mapping Specialist for RCD, any species of tree will be considered.
RCD will only inspect dead/dying and diseased trees located within 100 feet of habitable buildings and primary access and emergency roads, which RCD defines as “a paved surface serving three or more properties/residences.”
Homeowners will receive a 72-hour notification that contractors will be working on their properties. Trees to be removed will be marked by an RCD forester and will be covered with tarp and pinned down.
Homeowners must allow clear access to their property. Any fencing temporarily impeding work will be moved back by contractors, and contractors will take measures to prevent erosion and storm water protection, if necessary, after the tree removal.
Work may be delayed based on factors beyond RCD’s control, such as adverse weather conditions.
The wood will be cut into manageable sizes before it leaves the property to be hauled away to a plant to be burned to generate electricity.
Each parcel owner will have the option of keeping one cord of wood to be used for no other reason than as firewood, burning or chipping, to be done as soon as possible. The wood must not be removed from the property from which it was cut, in order to prevent the spread of the pest. Homeowners are also being advised against buying and moving any firewood to prevent the further spread of GSOB. Much comes from Mexico, which has been affected by the pest for years. In fact, many believe that transportation of firewood is responsible for GSOB’s introduction to California.
Trees on rental property meeting guidelines are eligible for removal, but the owner must sign a release.
Although GSOB has infected oaks trees in Mexico, Guatemala and Arizona for several years, it is a new problem in Southern California; thus, little research has been done on the matter, but experts do know that the problem may eventually encompass other parts of the state.
     “There is a strong concern that this pest is going to spread all the way up the coast of California,” said Kathleen Edwards, a forester from CAL FIRE.
     The GSOB has a bullet-shaped body, with adults measuring approximately 10 millimeters in length and two millimeters in width. Six yellowish spots are visible. The forewings are dark green. Larvae are slender, white and legless, and mature larvae measure approximately 18 millimeters in length. GSOB are generally dormant during the winter months.
     Evidence of GSOB include dead branches, woodpeckers feeding on larvae under the tree bark, causing black stains on the bark, and a “D” shaped exit hole on the main stem.
     Coast Live Oak, Canyon Live Oak, and California Black Oak are the trees most commonly affected by GSOB. White oaks seem unaffected by the pest at this time.
     California’s drought-like conditions do not seem to contribute to GSOB infection.
     “They’re seeing the beetle kill trees in areas well-watered as well as areas that are experiencing drought. What we’ve seen is that the lack of water isn’t a contributing factor to whether a tree lives or dies when it is infected with GSOB,” said Bevins.
     Homeowners are being discouraged from doing their own tree removal due to the danger involved. The county also has a tree removal program serving some other areas.
     RCD, through The Fire Safe Council of San Diego County, maintains its no-cost chipping program. Locally, the Greater Alpine Fire Safe Council offers its own chipping program, as well as various community chipping days throughout the year.
     RCD and its affiliated departments are involved in many other fire safety programs, including education in schools and free assessments to homeowners in designated areas, offering advice on defensive space.
     On Aug. 1, program applications were mailed to property owners of 945 parcels in Descanso and Sherilton Valley. The application deadline is Sept. 30.
     Work is estimated to begin in June 2010, but site evaluations and tree markings will take place October through the end of March 2010. An estimated 1,200 trees are expected to be marked for removal through the program.
     Bevins said RCD must cut through red tape, completing environmental reports and bids before work begins. Environmental studies, alone, could take up to eight weeks, and environmental bids will take approximately four to six weeks.
     The County of San Diego and Alpine also have programs covering many areas not included in the RCD’s area.
     For more information on RCD, visit www.rcdsandiego.org, or call 562-0096.
     For more information on the Fire Safe Council of San Diego, visit www.firesafesdcounty.org.
     For more information about local programs and GAFSC, check online at www.greateralpinefsc.org.

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