4 ISA CEU's Approved

ROOT DISEASE WORKSHOP AGENDA

August 28, 2010

Private Residence of Dennis Tompkins and the former WSU Demonstration Forest

Bonney Lake, WA

8:30 – 9:00 am           Check-In at 10711 164^th Ave. Ct. E., Bonney Lake

Important Directions:

Travel to Sumner, WA on Highway 410. Take Valley Ave./Orting/Highway 162 exit. Drive south 1.5 miles to 96th Street E., just past a Chevron Station on the right. Turn left (east). Drive .7 miles and cross the Puyallup River. Immediately turn right on McCutcheon Road. Drive .7 miles to where road begins to bend and turn left onto 106th Street E. Drive up the hill, turn right on 164th Ave. Ct. E.; look for a large tan-colored house on the left.

If anyone passes the Golden Gate Bridge or ends up at Rainier National Park, they missed a turn!

Workshop attendees will carpool to the former WSU Demonstration Forest, approximately 5 miles, for the field practicum following the classroom session.

9:00 – 9:15 am           Introduction - Dennis Tompkins

                                                Background of speakers and Participant Introductions

                                    History and Future of WSU Forest

9:15 – 9:45 am           Root Disease Short Course - Ken Russell

Discussion of various tree fungi – emphasis on laminated root rot and Armillaria root disease

9:45 – 10:15 am                     Hands-on examination of various samples

                                                Learning how to identify signs of diseases

10:15 – 10:45 am       Results of root disease research project     Dennis Tompkins

10:45 – 12:45                         Field Exercises – drive to WSU Forest

 Station 1: Examine freshly sawn stumps with incipient and

advanced laminated decay.  Note planted cedar trees. 

Patch cut pattern dictated by presence of diseased trees.

Note natural cedar understory

Station 2:  Mature cedar area.  Most Douglas-fir was infected and cut.  Examine stain/decayed patterns in older stumps.  Compare open areas and well-stocked parts of stand.  Several trees had blown down during February 2006 storm.

12:45 – 1:00 pm         Final questions

                                     Sign sheets for CEU’s and WSDA Pesticide Credits

PNW-ISA CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE

Root Disease Workshop

When:             Saturday, August 28, 2010:  9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Where:           Classroom session at 10711 164^th Ave. Ct. E., Bonney Lake

                        Field session at WSU Demonstration Forest, Bonney Lake, WA

Instructors:    Ken Russell, Forest Pathologist

                          Dennis Tompkins, ISA Certified Arborist and Tree Risk Assessor

Background:

              The WSU Demonstration Forest experienced severe blowdown from the February 2006 windstorm because of extensive laminated root rot.  This “living laboratory” will be the fourth workshop conducted at the forest and provides a unique hands-on experience for attendees to learn about root diseases and to practice identifying various diseases.

            Ken Russell was retained by WSU to mark the forest for logging the root rot infection centers.  The logging was nearly completed before the memorable December 1996 storm that reeked havoc throughout the Puget Sound region.

            Dennis Tompkins initiated a research project with Russell to (1) determine if crown appearance could be an indicator of the presence of the disease and (2) evaluate the effectiveness of cutting buffer trees around infection centers to reduce the spread of the disease.

Equipment:

             The classroom session will be conducted at a private residence under a canopy of ornamental cherry trees and the field session will be at the forest.  Dress appropriately for the weather and field work.

            Bring your own chairs.  Recommended equipment is a hand lens (10X or higher) and boots.  Bottled water will be available.

Important Phone Numbers:

• (W) 253 863-7469
• (H) 253 863-2186
• (C) 253 355-5023