Managing Forests with EAB in Southwest Wisconsin. Patrick Dayton Stewardship Forester Greg Edge Area Forestry Leader

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1 Managing Forests with EAB in Southwest Wisconsin Patrick Dayton Stewardship Forester Greg Edge Area Forestry Leader

2 Victory, Wisconsin (April 2009)

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5 Victory Response Unit Work Plan Survey Rapid Visual Assessment, Trap Trees, Prism Traps Monitor Movement of EAB Population Regulation Enforce EAB Quarantine Regulations Outreach to Firewood Producers, Sawmills, Loggers, Amish Establish and Monitor EAB Compliance Agreements Education and Outreach Increase Awareness of EAB Quarantine Regulations Cooperating Consultant and Wood Producer Training Workshops for Homeowners What are the Options? Educate Community Leaders Forest Management Demonstrations Management Contact and Educate Private Forest Landowners (15 mile zone) Provide Inventory and Management Recommendations Facilitate Salvage and Pre-salvage Harvests Sinks, Bio-control, Research Assistance Ash Seed Collections Ash Wood Utilization Lists

6 Wisconsin DNR EAB Silviculture Guidelines

7 Non-Quarantine Counties Ash Minor Component (<20%): standard management for cover type ash less desirable, but not high risk keep good form and vigorous ash Ash Medium Component (20-40%): reduce ash proportion with regular stand entries goal of less than 20% ash crop trees Ash Major Component (>40%): reduce ash proportion through multiple entries goal of less than 20% ash crop trees or convert to other species

8 Quarantine Counties Within 15-Mile Zone: conduct pre-salvage/salvage harvest of ash residual stocking above C-line or >40 crop trees residual stock below C-line or <40 crop trees special consideration for lowland stands Outside 15-Mile Zone: consider accelerated harvest schedules follow guidelines for non-quarantine counties

9 Implementation of a Model Emerald Ash Borer Management Response Plan in Southwest Wisconsin Project funded by U.S. Forest Service Patrick Dayton, Stewardship Forester

10 The goal of this project is to reduce EAB habitat in Vernon and Crawford Counties and promote utilization of the ash resource. Rather than focusing on total elimination of ash in the target area, the project will emphasize reducing EAB habit in a 15 mile zone around the main infestation. This project is a collaborative effort between the U.S Forest Service, WI Department of Natural Resources, Southwest Badger RC&D Council, Kickapoo Woods Cooperative, University of Wisconsin Extension Service, and the Land Conservation Departments of Crawford and Vernon Counties.

11 Communication direct mailing speak to county committees newspaper press releases field days word of mouth/existing contacts In the summer of 2010 Southwest Badger Resource Conservation & Development, in cooperation with other organizations, will begin a project to assist landowners with their forest management, specifically ash management, within a fifteen mile radius of the Victory EAB infestation to slow the spread of the bug, reduce the impact, and encourage wise-utilization of the local forest resource. Landowners in Vernon and Crawford Counties who own more than a minimum of 10 acres of land and are located within the project area will be offered on-the-ground forestry advice on how to best protect their private forest from the destructive pest. Forestry assistance will include, but is not limited to: forestry practice plans, timber stand improvement marking, timber harvest marking, and tree planting advice. The first step will be to walk the forest and see if Southwest Badger RC&D, Wisconsin DNR, or a private consulting forester can provide assistance. Anyone who is interested in this project can call Southwest Badger RC&D stewardship forester Patrick Dayton at (608) or him at pdayton@vernoncounty.org. A healthy forest is the best defense against all insect and disease problems.

12 Map of Work Area Direct mailed: over 2600 landowners So far, worked with approximately 100 landowners

13 Assistance to Landowners Stewardship planning tree planting advice timber stand improvement marking other cost-sharing assistance timber marking (TSI)

14 Ash Management Prescriptions Within 15 miles of EAB infestation: Conduct a pre-salvage or salvage harvest of most or all ash. Consider retaining a few scattered ash trees for ecological purposes. Manage the residual stand or regenerate the stand based on the site capabilities 15+ miles from EAB infestation (in quarantined county): Consider accelerating harvest schedules to reduce ash levels. Sustainably manage stands containing ash following silvicultural guidelines for non-quarantined counties. No more than 20% of the crop trees should be ash.

15 Work Accomplished 1,150,000 board feet marked for harvest (231,000 bf ash) 200,000 board feet harvested (11,000 bf ash) 1400 cords marked for harvest 300 cords harvested 174 acres of TSI marked, 61 acres accomplished 400 acres of stewardship planning

16 Success or not? Project is not over - message is catching on Dispersal of bug continues by means that are hard to control Utilization is good, but could be better Professional forestry science to some who have never known it was available Questions?