HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAL Fire and USDA Forest Service - Tree Mortality Report Menchaca, Clarissa
From: Bennett, Robin
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2017 12:33 PM
To: Menchaca, Clarissa
Cc: McCracken, Shari; Dunsmoor, Cinch
Subject: BOS correspondence
Attachments: 12-12-2017 CAL FIREandU.S Fo restAn nouce I 29M ill ion DeaclTrees,pdf
Please see the Tree Mortality Team report attached.
Robin Hennell.,
L'xecutivc Assistant
(530) 872-6304
Btate Cotinty Styervi.sor's 0 -ixe
Superz4soi- I)oitg Teetei%
Board of"Sitpervisoi-s', Disti-ict 5
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Pai-adise, (,'.A 9,5969
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Stephanie Gomes, RELEASE December
Tree Mortality DATE: 12, 2017
Team Lead,
U.S. Forest Service
{QEe MOR)- 707-653-3579
ry
N Scott McLean
+: A Information Officer
(916) 651-FIRE
(3473)
@CALFIRE_PIO
Record 129 Million Dead Trees in California
USDA Forest Service and CAL FIRE Working Together to Address Forest Health
VALLEJO,Calif.,December 11,2017—The USDA Forest Service today announced that an additional 27
million trees, mostly conifers, died throughout California since November 2016, bringing the total number of
trees that have died due to drought and bark beetles to an historic 129 million on 8.9 million acres. The dead
trees continue to pose a hazard to people and critical infrastructure, mostly centered in the central and southern
Sierra Nevada region of the state.
"The number of dead and dying trees has continued to rise, along with the risks to communities and firefighters
if a wildfire breaks out in these areas," said Randy Moore, Regional Forester of the USDA Forest Service,
Pacific Southwest Region. "It is apparent from our survey flights this year that California's trees have not yet
recovered from the drought, and remain vulnerable to beetle attacks and increased wildfire threat. The USDA
Forest Service will continue to focus on mitigating hazard trees and thinning overly dense forests so they are
healthier and better able to survive stressors like this in the future."
Moore continued, "To increase the pace and scale of this important work, we need to fix how fire suppression is
funded. Last year fire management alone consumed 56 percent of the USDA Forest Service's national
budget. As fire suppression costs continue to grow as a percentage of the USDA Forest Service's budget,
funding is shrinking for non-fire programs that protect watersheds and restore forests, making them more
resilient to wildfire and drought."
Though California received record-breaking rains in the winter of 2016-2017, the effects of five consecutive
years of severe drought in California, a dramatic rise in bark beetle infestation and rising temperatures have led
to historic levels of tree die-off. The Tree Mortality Task Force (TMTF), with support from the Governor's
office and comprised of more than 80 local, state and federal agencies and private utility companies, continues
to remove hazardous dead trees. To date, the TMTF members have collectively felled or removed over I
million dead trees; this includes over 480,000 dead trees felled or removed by the USDA Forest Service.
The TMTF members are using a triage approach to this tree mortality crisis, first focusing on public safety by
removing dead and dying trees in high hazard areas. To further improve forest health, the USDA Forest Service
and CAL FIRE have increased their pace and scale of prescribed fire. The USDA Forest Service has treated
over 55,000 acres and CAL FIRE has completed over 33,000 acres in fuel treatment projects. By combining tree
removal with prescribed fire, crews will be able to decrease overly dense stands of trees, reduce greenhouse
gases, and protect communities across the state.
"Tree mortality at this magnitude takes on-going cooperation between public, non-profit and private entities,"
said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director and California's state forester. "California's forests are a critical
part of the State's strategy to address climate change. By working together and using all the resources at our
disposal we will be able to make more progress towards our common goal of healthier, more resilient forests
that benefit all Californians."
With record breaking levels of tree die-off,the TMTF has used this event as an opportunity to collaborate on
several fronts: from public workshops about reforestation, public outreach in urban and rural areas, and
awarding over S21 million in grants aimed to protect watersheds, remove dead trees and restore our forests. The
TMTF continues to collaborate on the efficient use of resources to protect public safety and build
consensus around long-term management strategies for California's forest lands.
"The Tree Mortality Task force has provided an essential venue for coordination of response efforts, exchange
of ideas, reporting, and accountability for the ongoing statewide response to this incident," said Supervisor
Nathan Magsig of Fresno County. "Leadership from the Governor's Office, CAL FIRE and Office of
Emergency Services has helped to ensure county issues are heard and addressed. Monthly coordination of the
10 most impacted counties has resulted in a more effective use of resources and has allowed counties to share
ideas and successes."
With a staggering 129 million dead trees in the state, the work of the task force is far from over. The strong
foundation built will continue to be an advantage as the TMTF continues to address tree mortality and
its impacts.
Learn more about tree mortality and the work to restore our forests in California at the USDA Forest Service's
web page Our Changing Forests. To learn about how to be prepared and protect your home against wildfire and
your trees against bark beetle attacks visit CAL FIRE's web page Ready for Wildfire.
Media Notes:
Tree Mortality Website
2017 Tree Mortality Aerial Detection Survey Results
Tree Mortality Combined Map, 2014-2017
Tree Mortality Progression,Map, 2014-2017
Animated Tree Mortality Progression Map, 2014-2017
Tree Mortality Project Pictures
CAL FIRE Prescribed Fire Video B-Roll
CAL FIRE Tree Removal Video B-Roll