WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR TREES?
On May 18, 2002, we discovered that many trees in Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma Counties were declining in health very rapidly. Visual observations since that time have shown a unusual pattern of symptoms that impact many variety of trees, bushes and shrubs. Healthy trees tend to resist diseases and pests unless they are weakened by stress which may be caused by weather modification programs, jet fuel emissions, lingering contrails, and air pollution. It is believed that our trees may be stressed due, in part, to these factors. (Click on photos to see common tree symptoms in our area.)
The problematic symptoms are dead, dying, wilting, prematurely yellowing leaves, fallen trees, fallen or bent branches, bending branches, trees breaking in the trunk area and falling down, upper branches with unusual bending, canopy damage, and many trees looking like they were denuded by acid rain. When individuals first began to complain about the condition of their trees many were advised that drought stress, or beetles were the cause of the problem and advised not to worry about the condition of their trees. It should be noted that weather changes and air pollution, even though acid rain damages trees, were ignored as a possible cause of these problems. (California had the dirtiest air in the United States (San Francisco headlines on August 31, 2002), in 2001 and 2002, and this wouldn't be a factor in tree health?)
In the article noted below is the following quote: "The disease (Sudden Oak Death Syndrome), has already killed tens of thousands of trees in California and spread to 17 different species..." including an area in Southern Oregon. It appears that Sudden Oak Death Syndrome has become the "catch-all" phrase for all tree problems. However, large areas of trees are impacted in many counties that don't have Sudden Oak Death Syndrome. Why? What is killing those trees? Why are counties all over northern California having similar problems and in areas where there is no sign of Sudden Oak Death Syndrome? Why don't our local officials know what is killing the Redwoods in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma Counties?
In the New York Times dated October 1, 2002, there was an article about Sudden Oak Death Syndrome, which was first identified (approximation) in 1994. " Dr. Garbelotto stated in this article that their findings "...revealed bay trees, not oak trees, to be the unexpected, key disperser of the disease." (However, many areas with similar symptoms do not have bay trees that would spread the disease.) The article goes on to state "...Much remains unknown...And there is no cure in hand..."
Air pollution and weather changes, are still be ignored as a cause of the widespread problems which cannot all be explained by Sudden Oak Death Syndrome. In some areas Oaks, Redwood and Douglas Fir are dying or showing unusual symptoms in areas where there has been no Sudden Oak Death Syndrome found. In addition, other species of trees, bushes and shrubs (Manzanita in Mendocino County and the Chaparral and Pine trees in Lake County), all seem to be impacted.
Why are counties with only one small area diagnosed Sudden Oak Death Syndrome, like Lake County, per their Agricultural Commissioner, showing these symptoms? Mendocino County only has found 4-5 small areas, per our Agricultural Commissioner, with Sudden Oak Death. No one seems to know what is killing the Redwoods, Oaks, and other trees, bushes and shrubs here for sure. Theories abound but not one public official wants to look at the increasing air pollution from jet emissions and lingering jet contrails that definitely change the weather and impact vegetation. They want to rely on beetles and drought while watching the demise of our trees, bushes and shrubs.
There is some doubt about the drought theory since Mendocino County trees have survived many years of drought historically without the current consequences. Trees along rivers and streams, with water still running, are also showing similar symptoms. Many watered golf courses, watered park trees, and backyard trees are showing similar symptoms. Why? Alders that live along the streams and rivers in Mendocino County were impacted in 2002-2006. It is clear that Mendocino County was not considered to be in a drought status this year.
We do understand that drought can take a toll on trees - usually stresses them, and that beetles usually only attack unhealthy trees. Unusual weather changes may also stress trees. If we add increasing air pollution to these problems plus more acidic rain and increasingly high levels of aluminum in our drinking water supplies,we may be able to find an answer. Why not study the impact of jet fuel emissions, other types of air pollution, the fact that the weather may be changed by lingering contrails, and that all of this may impact the health of our trees?
Could the pathogen, Phytophthora ramorum, be activated by higher humidity, weather changes, and lack of direct sunlight that is caused by hours of persistent and lingering jet contrails obscuring the sun for hours on most days in Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma Counties? NASA noted in October 2005 (newsletter) that persistent jet contrails make man-made clouds which exacerbate global warming and impact natural resources. Increasing cloud cover changes our climate. Where are the studies to see how this is impacting tree health across the United States and in Mendocino, Lake, and Lake Counties?
Where are the studies being conducted that would answer these questions? Global dimming may be impacting tree health. Most of our elected officials are in denial...along with various public agencies that are supposed to be protecting our natural resources and our trees (BLM, EPA, USDA, Forest Service...the list is endless.) Could agency employees be threatened with job loss or a career ending status if they, who are paid by our tax dollars, speak out on this subbject? Lots of questions and no answers!
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National Parks Conservation Association Magazine - (www.npca.org/magazine)
November/December 2002 "Losing the Forests and the Trees" by Todd Wilkinson
This article regards American's Forests which are under assault from a variety of fronts. Dr. David Graber, the senior science advisor in Sequoia-Kings Canyon National parks, and a respected conservation biologist, calls this assault on our forests and tree a "...biological train wreck..." that "...has been tracked for a long time by the scientific community..." He further states, "...these foreign diseases are incredibly virulent and made more potent by pollution and possibly by the onset of climate change..."
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The Press Democrat, Thursday, February 18, 2002: "Relief sought from Sudden Oak restrictions" by Colleen Valles, Associated Press Writer - Petaluma. Those counties with some areas affected by Sudden Oak Death include, but are not limited to the following counties: "...Larry Hawkins, a spokesman for the USDA, said the boundaries have been drawn along county lines because of the lack of information. 'The reason for that is there's no survey data to say this is the part of the county that is free from disease and this is not,' he said...The affected counties include Alameda, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma..." Note: Mendocino County has only 4 isolated areas where Sudden Oak Death Syndrome has been identified. It should be noted that tree health in many areas of Mendocino County is declining. Why? why do the trees in Mendocino County look similar in declining health as the trees in Lake County where Sudden Oak Death Syndrome has not been identified in 2002?
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The Press Democrat, Monday, July 1, 2002, under State Briefs: "...Lake Tahoe, Removal of dead, dying trees begins. Crews have begun removing dead and dying trees from along a Lake Tahoe highway as state officials continue a probe into the cause of the problem. North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District crews began the project last week along Nevada Route 28...More than 1,000 trees were removed the first day alone...The Nevada Department of Transportation and state Division of Forestry are investigating whether the cause of the dying trees is drought, insects or wintertime road treatments..." Note: Air pollution and weather changes are not being considered as a possible cause at this time. Why?