Forest Health Southern Interior Region KootenaysKamloopsCariboo Lorraine MacLauchlanForest Entomologist - Kamloops Leo RankinForest Entomologist – Williams Lake Hadrian MerlerForest Pathologist - Vernon

Mountain Pine Beetle  4,250,000 ha in SIR  59% of provincial infestation  1.6 fold increase from 2003  90% in former Cariboo Region  Area infested in Parks doubled  Expanding into southern half of SIR

Area of mountain pine beetle in the SIR

Expansion of MPB in SIR

Overwinter mortality estimates for the southern interior - March 2004 exponential exponential exponential

Douglas-fir Beetle Douglas-fir Beetle  30,700 ha infested  Area expanded 3.75 fold from 2002  Greatest increase in Cariboo  Significant infestations in most FD’s

Douglas-fir Beetle

Spruce Beetle  Infested area doubled from 2003  76,800 ha attacked  Major increases in DQU & DCC  90% of infestation in eastern Cariboo  Scattered windthrow initiated infestation

Spruce Beetle

Defoliators Defoliators Western Hemlock Looper

Western Spruce Budworm Western Spruce Budworm  615,000 ha in SIR  Majority in DCC, DMH, DCK and DCO  93,000 ha moderate or severe defoliation  Widespread defoliation projected for 2005

Western Spruce Budworm

Western Spruce Budworm Spray Program Western Spruce Budworm Spray Program  25,500 ha of Douglas- fir stands treated in SIR in 2004  Sprayed mainly in DCC and DMH  Applied B.t.k. at a rate of 2.4 L/ha  Cost of $22.50/ha  Decreased pop’n levels in all treated blocks

Western Spruce Budworm Spray Program Western Spruce Budworm Spray Program  Plan to spray 45,000 ha in 2005  Only select high value stands projected for severe defoliation for treatment  35,000 ha in Cariboo  10,000 ha in Kamloops

Western Hemlock Looper Western Hemlock Looper  Outbreak largely subsided  Only 5,500 ha in SIR  Bulk of activity in Columbia FD – 3,400 ha  Pop’ns in Kamloops IDf collapsed

Western Hemlock Looper Western Hemlock Looper  Trap catches down significantly except around Shuswap River & Greenbush Lakes  Egg sampling in Columbia FD indicates light defoliation possible at only two sites.  Areas treated with B.t.k. in 2003 had nil to trace defoliation

Western Hemlock Looper Western Hemlock Looper

Douglas-fir Tussock Moth Douglas-fir Tussock Moth  No defoliation detected from the air in 2004  Active in Scottie Creek in Kamloops FD  Trap catches in Kamloops, Cascades, Okanagan Shuswap and 100 Mile FD’s down

Our future forests.... A gloomy entomologist! New findings and an entomological interpretation.

Long galleries with healthy (large) larvae) Young pine (28 years) under attack.

Pine Beetle in Young Stands Pine Beetle in Young Stands  Surveyed plantations between 25 & 35 years of age  46 plantations surveyed in DQU  74% of stands had pine beetle attack

Pine Beetle in Young Stands Pine Beetle in Young Stands  High of 64% attack, low of 1% attack  Attack levels increased with stand age and average stand diameter  Spaced stands had lower attack (%)  High green to red ratio - most attack new

Drought Drought-induced mortality in plantation

Drought Drought  Drought mortality mapped in over 11,300 ha in 2004  Mostly Kamloops & Okanagan Shuswap FD’s  Low elevation dry Douglas-fir & Ponderosa Pine stands  Difficult to map during aerial survey  Small sub-dominant understory trees  Estimate 250, ,000 ha with significant mortality in  Build-up of Douglas-fir beetle & western pine beetle expected in some areas

Western Pine Beetle Western Pine Beetle  Local problem in towns, around subdivisions  Population build-up because of fire and drought  Removing 2500 – 3000 trees in Kalowna

Projections and future direction In over-run TSA’s plan a strategic harvest of infested stands while spatially producing mosaic of blocks/openings; wide spacingIn over-run TSA’s plan a strategic harvest of infested stands while spatially producing mosaic of blocks/openings; wide spacing Put full efforts into the southern portion of the Region where “all-is-not- lost” (yet).Put full efforts into the southern portion of the Region where “all-is-not- lost” (yet). While still targeting “leading edge” and maximizing extraction of green attack, many areas should shift to value extraction (reds, green attack, greys).While still targeting “leading edge” and maximizing extraction of green attack, many areas should shift to value extraction (reds, green attack, greys).

Projections and future direction Plantations are being attacked by MPB in the core area of the outbreak as well as other areas in the SIR (Quesnel, Okanagan Shuswap)Plantations are being attacked by MPB in the core area of the outbreak as well as other areas in the SIR (Quesnel, Okanagan Shuswap) As drought-like conditions continue, more stands (young and old) will be susceptible to secondary insect/pathogen mortalityAs drought-like conditions continue, more stands (young and old) will be susceptible to secondary insect/pathogen mortality drought is exacerbating the MPB situation and will continue to do sodrought is exacerbating the MPB situation and will continue to do so Target reducing “risk” surrounding >25 yr old plantationsTarget reducing “risk” surrounding >25 yr old plantations