Kamloops TSA - Forest Health Strategy
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Kamloops TSA - Forest Health Strategy Executive Summary The Kamloops TSA Forest Health Strategy has been updated for 2018/19 with the most current information available. There have been several edits, as well as some additions. It is expected that over the next few years, that there will be more information added with respect to; Douglas-fir beetle planning and management, stocking standards related to forest health factors and climate change adaptation strategies. The changes of note this year are: • New Root Disease Management Guidance Document • Effects of the 2017 Drought on Young Pine Stands in the Southern Interior – can be found in the 2018 Overview of Forest Health Conditions in Southern British Columbia (footnote 1). • Updated information on Douglas fir beetle management is located here - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/managing-our-forest-resources/forest- health/forest-pests/bark-beetles/douglas-fir-beetle. A detailed flight in the southern portion of the district was completed in 2018 – see data on page 33. Update on Bark Beetles in Kamloops TSA: • Western balsam bark beetle - affected area has increased resulting in 68,962 hectares infested up from 59,730 hectares infested in 2017. The areas with the most intense attacks are in the northern portion of the TSA, Raft Mountain, Trophy Mountain, Battle Mountain and Dunn Peak. • Spruce beetle – affected area decreased to 6,918 hectares identified during the 2018 aerial overview survey, down from 9,770 hectares in 2017. The large infestation west of Kostal Lake has collapsed due to depletion of available host material. Despite this decline, infestation continued to be widespread and very active in the central area of Wells Gray Park, between Murtle Lake, Hobson Lake, and Azure Lake. Populations have been expanding eastwards and northwards towards Murtle Lake, McDougall Lake, and Angus Horn Creek. A few smaller infestations persist around Cairn Peak, Chipuin Mountain, Wentworth Lake, and Sun Peaks. • Douglas fir beetle – Red attack is still widespread across most areas of the TSA. Areas, both spot and patch infestations have however decreased to 2,227 hectares (268 patch attacks and 1,001 spot attacks) from 3,100 hectares in 2017 (362 patches and 1,290 smaller spot infestations) indicating a decrease in attack rates. The most active populations were in the Deadman River, Roche Lake, Campbell Lake, Red Lake, Sabiston Creek, Barriere River, Vavenby, and the lower Wells Gray Park areas. Large areas along the margins of the 2017 Elephant Hill fire experienced variable burn severity and low-intensity ground fires, which may lead to the buildup of beetle populations over the next few years. • Mountain Pine beetle - activity was limited to a single spot of 10 trees near Two Springs Creek. Update on Defoliators: • Two-year Cycle budworm - remains high, with 31,475 hectares recorded. A very slight decrease from 32,400 hectares in 2017. 2018 was an “on” year with high feeding activity. Over 80% of stands affected suffered moderate or greater levels of damage. The majority of affected stands were in the Mad River, Raft River, Trophy Mountain, Raft Peak, Foghorn Mountain, Avola and TFL 18 areas. • Western Spruce Budworm – for the first time since 2015 defoliation was recorded. 2,318 hectares of damage were mapped in the Tranquille River, Criss Creek, Deadman River, and Robbins Range areas. Most of the damage was found to be light except heavier damage to understory trees was visible during ground checks of the stands along the Tranquille River. • Douglas Fir Tussock Moth - The infestation that was observed at Heffley Creek in 2017 has now expanded to 65 hectares of moderate and severe defoliation occurring in small patches. The affected area is close to Highway 5, Tod Mountain Road and the Heffley Creek refuse transfer station. Ground checks continue to note many new egg masses which are expected to result in an expanded population in 2019. • Aspen Serpentine leafminer - defoliation increased to 20,662 hectares most being light to moderate damage. • Birch leafminer damage on 2,468 hectares in the upper North Thompson around Albreda, Vavenby and Birch Island, near north Barriere Lake, and Fadear Creek. Many of the stands re- foliated, which likely reduced the level of damage visible by the time the surveys were conducted. • Satin moth damage was limited to a single 31-hectare patch near Criss Creek. Update on Balsam Woolly Adelgid in the Southern Interior: • Balsam woolly adelgid (BWA) was surveyed in 2017 by Don Heppner with the sites selected by Lorraine Maclauchlan and Kevin Buxton. • The results of the survey found BWA in Mine Creek and Juliet Creek widespread and well established, Community Lake Recreation Site with gouting on understory trees and at 15 km Badger Lake FSR with BWA and gouting on understory trees. BWA was found on the Darlington FSR with moderate to heavy infested trees from 13 km to 24 km. BWA was found at intervals along the Surrey lake FSR to 13 km. Review the 2018 Overview of Forest Health Conditions in Southern British Columbia at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/managing-our-forest-resources/forest- health/aerial-overview-surveys for more information on pests and diseases in the Kamloops TSA. Table of Contents Foreword ................................................................................................................................................... 3-4 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 6 2.0 Guiding Principles ........................................................................................................................... 7 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities ............................................................................................................... 8 4.0 Priority Forest Health Factors within the TSA ................................................................................. 9 5.0 Non-Recovered Losses (NRLs) (There have been no changes to this section in 2013) ................ 10 6.0 Bark Beetles – Blowdown - Drought ............................................................................................. 11 6.1 BARK BEETLE MANAGEMENT UNITS (IBU) ............................................................................................. 13 6.2 DOUGLAS-FIR BEETLE (IBD) AND SPRUCE BEETLE (IBS) ............................................................................ 13 6.3 MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE (IBM) ........................................................................................................... 14 6.4 WESTERN BALSAM BARK BEETLE (IBB) .................................................................................................. 14 6.5 BLOWDOWN ...................................................................................................................................... 15 6.6 DROUGHT ......................................................................................................................................... 15 7.0 Defoliators..................................................................................................................................... 15 7.1 WESTERN SPRUCE BUDWORM (IDW) .................................................................................................... 16 7.2 DOUGLAS-FIR TUSSOCK MOTH (IDT) ..................................................................................................... 16 7.3 TWO-YEAR CYCLE SPRUCE BUDWORM (IDB) .......................................................................................... 16 7.4 WESTERN HEMLOCK LOOPER (IDL) ....................................................................................................... 16 8.0 Deciduous Pests ............................................................................................................................ 16 9.0 Root Diseases ................................................................................................................................ 17 9.1 ARMILLARIA ROOT DISEASE (DRA) ........................................................................................................ 18 9.2 PHELLINUS (LAMINATED) ROOT DISEASE (DRL) ....................................................................................... 18 10.0 Pests of Young Stands ................................................................................................................... 18 11.0 Further Links and References ....................................................................................................... 21 11.1 GENERAL FOREST HEALTH INFORMATION SOURCES ............................................................................ 21 11.2 BARK BEETLE INFORMATION SOURCES .............................................................................................. 22 11.3 INTERNET INFORMATION SOURCES ................................................................................................... 23 11.4 RESEARCH INFORMATION SOURCES .................................................................................................. 24 APPENDIX 1: 2011 BMU Map and Summary Tables for Mountain Pine Beetle ........................................ 25 APPENDIX 2: 2011 BMU Map and Summary Tables for Douglas-fir Beetle ............................................... 28 APPENDIX 3: 2011 BMU Map and Summary Tables for Spruce Beetle ....................................................