McLoughlin's Posterous

Urban Kelowna forests are experiencing increasing attacks from two pests.

Activities of both the Mountain and Western pine beetle have been noticed in several urban forests, on public and private property.

The attacks have been particularly heavy in the northern and southeast sectors of the city.

Over the past winter, about 1,250 infested trees were removed from 15 city properties.

The largest concentrations of attack were on Knox Mountain, Dilworth Mountain and Mission Ridge parks as well as a large city property off June Springs Road.

Since infested trees normally don't turn red until the following spring, city officials expect more dead or dying trees to become evident by June.

In a preparation for Monday's council meeting, Urban Forestry Supervisor, Blair Stewart, is asking council to endorse an application for $165,000 for removal of beetle kill trees and fire hazard mitigation through the Union of BC Municipalities.

Through a partnership with the federal government, the city has already received about $1.27M in funding through 2014 to assist with pine beetle control and fuel modification.

Stewart says the predicted rate of beetle kill in Kelowna has not reached levels expected in estimates provided by both the provincial and federal governments.

Those estimates, made in 2007, suggested between 60 and 80 per cent of the city's 600,000 ponderosa pines would be lost to infestation by 2018.

"Infestation rates in the Kelowna area have proceeded at a slower pace than initially anticipated for a number of reasons," says Stewart in his report for council.

"Weather has been a major contributing factor and, in some years, there has been significant winter morality of the beetle broods. Efforts to manage and remove beetle attack in the valley, as well as a more diverse forest composition have likely also reduced the rate of spread."

Stewart says many residents are also interested in knowing what they can do to prevent attacks on their trees.

He says few options exist and none are guaranteed.

"Some methods such as 'fiberglass screening' are showing promise but are still being tested," adds Stewart.

"Given that high rates of tree mortality are expected, staff are advising the public that it would be wise to consider replanting trees now."

Not only are we loosing our forests, we are facing increased risk of fire. What is the government doing about it?