Protecting a Resource at Risk
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Protecting a Resource at Risk: Control Techniques for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in Michigan MDNR MCCC Forest Health Crew January 17, 2020 Michigan Civilian Conservation Corps • Special program of Michigan Legislature DNR Warren Dunes SP DNR Hartwick Pines SP • Housed in DNR Parks and RecreationDNR Algonac Division SP • Training program to acquire natural resource skills. – Rx Fire, pesticide certifications, chainsaw training, plant identification, invasive species management, tree planting, horticulture,DNR Fort Custer forest RA health DNR Brighton RA DNR Fort Custer RA April 8, 2018 DNR Tahquamenon Falls SP DNR PJ Hoffmaster SP DNR PJ Hoffmaster SP • Funded with PRD Park Improvement funds – MDARD – FRD • $200,000 GLRI grant secured • Applied for MISGP funding to support detection survey 1. Eastern Hemlock and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Basics 2. Spread of HWA 3. Survey and Treatment Methods 4. Current Status 5. The Future DNR Muskegon SP Eastern Hemlock Identification • Coniferous tree with short, blunt needles and dark, furrowed bark. • Commonly found on coastal dunes and north facing ridges. • Highly shade tolerant & long-lived (can live up to 800 years or more). Offer. DNR Silver Lake SP Adirondackvic.org Univ. of Vermont Hemlock Benefits • Offers shelter and food for whitetail deer, rodents and birds during the winter months • Important for riparian habitat such as cold water streams where they provide vital shade for trout, salmon, and sculpin • Fibrous, shallow root system provides erosion control D. Williams DNR Hoffmaster SP Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Identification US Forest Service • Needles turn greyish green • No bud growth DNR PRD • Needle drop Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Ovisacs Feeding adelgids secrete white wax (i.e., “wool”) through pores on their bodies as they feed, forming ovisacs at base of needles. DNR Silver Lake SP DNR Mears SP Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Identification Crawlers (1st instar nymphs) ME DACF DNR Muskegon SP Hemlock needle torn away from stem shows position of nymph (arrow) and its stylet bundle (arrowheads) within the plant. HWA nymphs settled and feeding at the bases of needles. First Instar. (Note small halo of wool) An adult hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae, removed from its host plant and cleaned for imaging. Photos from USDA Forest Service PROGREDIENS University of Florida, Dept of Entomology Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Identification Photos from USDA Forest Service Look-a-likes Ohio DNR D. Ouelette, ME- FS Wool From White Pine Aphids Look-a-likes Beech Bark Scale Fluff DNR Leelanau SP DNR Leelanau SP HWA Spread • HWA found in 1951 in Virginia. • DNA analysis showed this HWA population came from Japan, where HWA is native. Infested hemlock nursery trees contribute to HWA spread.. MikesBackyardNursery.com HWA is a major threat to Michigan! • More than 170 million hemlocks grow in Michigan forests • Hemlock is an important forest & wildlife resource -Provides food & shelter for many species -Regulates health of rivers & streams -Prevents erosion on Michigan’s coastal dunes • Valuable ornamental tree in the landscape market Adelges tsugae Smoky Mtn Nat. Park (wax removed) Infested shoot Slide courtesy of MSU Photos US Forest Service, National Park Service Michigan’s Hemlock Range Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Risk of HWA Infection Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Where is the Hemlock? Baraga State Park Mitchell State Park Interlochen State Park Muskallonge Lake State Bass River State Park Park J.W. Wells State Park Bewabic State Park Muskegon State Park Lake Gogebic State Park Burt Lake State Newagon State Park Lakeport State Park North Higgins Lakes State Cheboygan State Park Park Laughing Whitefish Falls Craig Lake State Park Old Mission State Park Leelanau State Park Fayette State Park Orchard Beach State Park McLain State Park Fisherman's Island State Park Palms Book State Park Mears State Park Rifle River Recreation Grand Mere State Park Area Van Riper State Park Saugatuck Dunes State Harrisville State Park Park Wagner Falls Scenic Site Hartwick Pines State Park Silver Lake State Park Warren Dunes State Park Highland Recreation South Higgins Lake State Area Park Wilderness State Park Tahquamenon Falls State Yankee Springs Hoeft State Park Park Recreation Area Hoffmaster State Park Twin Lakes State Park Young State Park Indian Lake State Park Van Buren State Park Holland State Park Interlochen State Park Van Riper State Park Duck Lake State Park Through 2014 Ottawa and Allegan Counties Through 2015 Ottawa, Allegan, and Muskegon Counties 2016 to Present Ottawa, Allegan, Muskegon, and Oceana Counties Hemlock Health Assessment Unhealthy hemlock trees Photos US Forest Service P.J. Hoffmaster SP Old, large trees often more vulnerable than younger trees. Stress from drought or other pests can hasten mortality. Photos US Forest Service, National Park Service 2018 Survey and Treatment DNR PRD MCCC AmeriCorps HWA/Forest Health Crew formed in June 2018 • 6 person traveling crew • Based in Muskegon SP • Treatment • Survey DNR Silver Lake SP 2019 Survey and Treatment • 9 person summer treatment crew • 5 person winter survey crew DNR Saugatuck Dunes SP DNR Saugatuck Dunes SP Survey Equipment DNR PRD Survey Equipment Biltmore Stick DBH Tape Flagging iPad External Battery DNR PRD Survey Equipment Binoculars Flashlight Hand Lens Field Vest Hammer, Nails, & Tags DNR PRD Survey Methods • Analyze undersides of branches • Use binoculars for high branches • Confirm HWA with hand lens DNR Muskegon SP DNR Silver Lake SP Survey Methods ArcGIS Explorer ArcGIS Collector -navigation -records crew tracks, polygons for survey treatment status, and points for infected trees DNR PRD DNR PRD Recording Infestation • Tag • Flag • Record location of tree in Arc Collector DNR Muskegon SP DNR PRD HWA Survey Zones PRD managed acreage within: • 5 mile buffer: 7,523 • 20 mile buffer: 9,518 • Lake Mich. buffer: 26,188 Total PRD acreage in survey zones: 35,706 Does not include acreage at Tahquamenon Falls, Hartwick Pines, Porcupine Mtns. Wilderness or other high value sites outside of the buffer DNR Survey Methods • Survey as many hemlock as possible! • Dense stands: Survey at least 30/acre • Focus on areas attractive to wildlife: – Dune ridges – Trails – Isolated trees in open areas – Strive for even coverage per acre DNR PRD HWA Survey • Survey 30 trees/acre • Record positive HWA • Document hemlock presence • Delimitation survey 2,921ac. (FY19) 2.35 ac./hr. • Detection survey 7,754 ac. (FY19) 7.41 ac./hr. DNR Duck Lake SP HWA Treatments Basal Bark Spray Tree Injection DNR Silver Lake SP DNR Silver Lake SP Treatment Methods Basal Bark • When is it used? Backpack sprayer • Standard method ~100 trees a day per 0.5 oz. a.i. Imadacloprid/inch • Applying Dinotefuran and IMD • Limitations • Acre limit (128 in.) • Weather dependent • It’s messy and backpacks can clog DNR Muskegon SP DNR Silver Lake SP Treatment Methods Tree Injection When is it used? Quickjet Air • Acres where basal 1 mL ImaJet 10 / inch bark limit is reached • Inclement weather • Near water • Limitations • Cannot inject <4” DBH • Tubing twists and kinks DNR Silver Lake SP • Wounds trees DNR PJ Hoffmaster SP Systemic Insecticides Imidacloprid: becomes effective 1 year after application, but provides 5-7 years of HWA control Dinotefuran: provides HWA control 6 months after Dinotefuran application and lasts for 1 year Can apply both when necessary Quarantine • Oceana • Muskegon • Ottawa • Allegan PRD Field Summary Fiscal Trees Total acres Total acres year treated Total dbh treated surveyed 17 1,591 12,980 248 143 18 3,709 23,547 189 2,574 19 14,713 86,062 976 11,307 20 1,624 11,689 171 2,423 DNR PJ Hoffmaster SP Total 21,637 134,278 1,584 16,447 PJ Hoffmaster • 3,545 hours of treatment work • 11,982 total trees treated • 73,423 inches DBH • Average 0.54 acre/hour • Cost/acre = $82.09 • Cost/tree = $5.60 • Cost/inch = $0.91 DNR PRD Saugatuck Dunes 3 infested trees found in 2018 Returned for treatment in Summer 2019 ● 22 acres treated ● 273 trees ● 1,774 inches 9 additional trees found during the current survey season. The crew will return to treat in 2020 DNR PRD Silver Lake FY 2018 • 122 acres treated • 2,865 trees • 16,927 inches FY 2019/2020 • 161 acres treated • 1,860 trees • 14,673 inches DNR PRD Charles Mears State Park • Infected tree found on August 29, 2018. • The infection was treated the next day. • Surrounding non- infected trees were also treated preventively. • 114 trees treated DNR PRD • 1,076 inches DBH DNR Mears SP Challenges of HWA Survey and Treatment • Difficult to access sites • Costs of chemicals and equipment • Acre limit for chemicals DNR Saugatuck Dunes SP DNR PJ Hoffmaster SP Rewards of Field Work • Scenic views • Learning new plants and mushroom species • Herping • Birding • Forest Bathing • Getting a free workout DNR Saugatuck Dunes SP DNR PRD Future Plan Survey priority parks through winter 2020: • Wilderness • Fisherman’s Island Continue treatment in summer 2020: • Saugatuck • Muskegon • Duck Lake • Hoffmaster • Silver Lake Monitor previous treatment areas DNR What if I think I find HWA in a State Park? Quarantine: Allegan, Ottawa, Muskegon, Oceana Counties Inside quarantine: • Contact DNR PRD Stewardship Unit • Take photo, record GPS location Outside quarantine: • Contact DNR PRD Stewardship Unit. • Take photo, record GPS location • Must be verified by MDARD and USDA • Do not broadcast until verified Midwest Invasive Species Information Network www.misin.msu.edu Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in MI Recommendations for Landowners www.michigan.gov/HWA Questions? Thank you to the following funding sources Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program.