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Sierra Nevada pine tree die-off worsens as beetles thrive
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 6:33 pm
by ERIC
Sierra Nevada pine tree die-off worsens as beetles thrive in drought
BY LEWIS GRISWOLD
The Fresno BeeMarch 22, 2015
• The drought is spurring bark beetle populations in the Sierra, leading to massive tree die-offs.
• The dead trees are raising concerns about potentially massive wildfires.
• Loggers blame the Forest Service for not allowing more thinning operations.
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Re: Sierra Nevada pine tree die-off worsens as beetles thriv
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 6:54 pm
by gary c.
Coming over Walker Pass last weekend my buddy and I were amazed at how many trees were completely dead. Entire canyons were nothing but standing dead timber. If we get a series of thunder storms under the right conditions all of California is likely to burn.
Bark beetles not adding to U.S. West's wildfire woes: study
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 10:17 am
by BSquared
Kind of an interesting counterpoint to this discussion here:
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/03/2 ... PH20150324.
The upshot is that at this point in time, anyway, beetle damage doesn't seem to be increasing fire frequency, although it might be increasing the intensity of the fires that do start. What's driving the whole thing, of course, is the warming climate.
Re: Sierra Nevada pine tree die-off worsens as beetles thriv
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 11:16 am
by markskor
Not mentioned but also specific to Yosemite today - the lodgepole needle miner moth.
http://www.us-parks.com/yosemite-nation ... miner.html
While also destructive short term, "the lodgepole needle miner plays a key role in lodgepole pine forest succession and regeneration at Yosemite."
Re: Sierra Nevada pine tree die-off worsens as beetles thriv
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 11:33 pm
by ericZ
How did you like my photos and little video?
-Eric Zamora
Fresno, CA.
Re: Sierra Nevada pine tree die-off worsens as beetles thriv
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 3:28 am
by BSquared
ericZ wrote:How did you like my photos and little video?
-Eric Zamora
Fresno, CA.
Excellent! That forester was a great subject for the interview, too.