4.2. SR 03-20-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

~ Oak Wilt In Minnesotas 1995 Oak wilt, caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt, continues to be.the primary cause of oak mortality in Minnesota. The oak type, made up of 6 species of oak, occupies 650,000 acres in Minnesota. Harvesting oak for wood products adds approximately ~1 billion to the state economy white oaks in residential settings are our most valuable energy saving, shade trees. In addition, oak wilt can have a serious impact on wildlife resources from squirrels and white-tailed deer. How serious is oak wilt in Minnesota? A 1988 photographic survey of the northern Metro Region identified a total of 3,012 oak wilt infection centers on 5006 acres containing 91,821 trees. A second photographic survey of Dakota County in 1993 found an additional 600 centers. In addition, a 1989 aerial survey found another 600 centers scattered over the southeast part of the state. There is little doubt that a major cause of oak wilt in most areas has been development. Infection centers result from wounding during home construction, clearance for utility lines, road construction, yard maintenance, and recreation activities particularly in areas with existing infection centers. • Oak wilt is being controlled? Oak wilt is not another Dutch Elm Disease. It is not as easily spread by insects and can be effectively controlled by severing the roots between Infected and healthy trees. Once the incidence of the disease is lowered, local programs of regulation and education should keep it from recurring. How much is it costing and what is being accomplished? Treating an average oak wilt infection pocket costs from x500 to X1,000. Estimates are that a total effort of between ~4-5 million is needed to bring oak wilt down to levels that can be managed by local communities. A federal assistance program became available in 1992 and has provided Minnesotans in Anoka, Chisago, Dakota, Isanti, Ramsey, Sherburne, and Washington Counties with X1,444,000 in suppression assistance, but these federal funds are limited to suppression work in the project area and will end in 1995. From 1992 to 1994, this program assisted residents in 120 communities in seven counties by controlling over 1,600 infection centers. The project has installed 716,000 feet of vibratory plow line and removed over 5,000 spore producing trees. Another 600+ • infection centers will be treated in 1995. This brings the total line installed to approximately 136 miles. ., ,.