HAZARD TREE AWARENESS

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HAZARD TREE AWARENESS

• An Interactive Study
• www.fs.fed.us/r1/projects/haztree_index.shtml

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Hazard Tree Awareness

• Presented with a sincere concern for your safety
• by
• Northern Rockies Federal Land
• Management Agencies

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Objectives Outline

• LEARN RECOGNIZE
• Indicators of Tree Structural Integrity
  Revealed in the Crown, Branches, Bole, Tree Base
  Roots
• Changing Conditions Wind/Weather, Fire,
  Insects Diseases, Management Practices
• Beyond a Glance Assessment Tools Thump, Dig
  at Roots, Chip at Bark, Bore

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Interactive Study Discussion

• Throughout this program, discuss each indicator
  as a risk to
• 1. Someone walking or driving by.
• 2. A short term camp or worksite.
• 3. A permanent camp site or facility.

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Interactive Study Discussion

• Where a significant risk exists
• 1. Describe appropriate options.
• 2. Describe events that change the risk level.

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Tree Basics

• Very elementary no Latin.
• Anything that causes stress on a tree will weaken
  it.
• Tree stresses are cumulative and inter-related.
• Weakened trees are vulnerable to damage decay

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• ..Damage Decay
• Lead to
• Loss of Structural Integrity

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INDICATORS
Crown Indicators
Limb Indicators
Root Tree Base Indicators
Bole, Stem, Butt Indicators
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Crown Indicators

• Crown Indicators of Structural Defects
• Dead/Broken Tops
• Dead Branches
• Forks
• Leaning Trees
• Crown Indicators of Root Defect
• Loss of Needles Leaves
• Discoloration, Die Back
• Thinning Crowns Stress Cone Crop

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Crown Indicators STRUCTURAL DEFECTS

• Dead and Broken Tops

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Crown Indicators Structural Defects

• Dead Branches

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Crown Indicators Structural Defects

• Forks

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Crown Indicators Structural Defects

• Long standing leaning trees have grown a vertical
  top
• Developed re-enforced root systems to compensate
• Are less of a hazard than

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Crown Indicators Structural Defects

• . Recent Leaning Trees

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Crown Indicators - ROOT DEFECT

• Loss of needles leaves, discoloration, dieback

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Crown Indicators - Root Defect

• Stress cone crop

Thinning Crowns, Stress Cone Crop
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Limb Indicators
Conks Rots Mistletoe Branches Cracks Fallen Limbs
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Limb Indicators
Excavated Cavities
Conks
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Limb Indicators
Branch Decay
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Limb Indicators
Mistletoe Branches
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Limb Indicators
What does this tell you?
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Bole Indicators
Bole, Stem, Butt Indicators
Conks
Rot

• Indicators of Butt, Stem and Bole Defects
• Decay
• Swelling
• Cracks and Splits
• Fire Scars
• Burned out bole

Bole Swelling
Cracks Splits
Burned Bole
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Bole, Stem, Butt Indicators

• Conks

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Bole, Stem, Butt Indicators

• Brown Rot White Rot

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Bole, Stem, Butt Indicators

• Bole Swellings

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Bole, Stem, Butt Indicators

• Cracks and Splits

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Bole, Stem, Butt Indicators
What do you see?
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Bole, Stem, Butt Indicators
Cavities Rot
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Bole, Stems, Butt Indicators
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Bole, Stem, Butt Indicators

• Bole, Butt, Root Rot

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Bole, Stem, Butt Indicators

• What is the risk and what would you do?

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Root and Tree Base Indicators

• Sprung Roots
• Compaction
• Fire Damage
• Water Soil Erosion
• Wind Throw
• Basil Resin Flow
• Mushrooms

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Root Tree Base Indicators

• Sprung Roots

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Root Tree Base Indicators

• Compaction

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Root Tree Base Indicators

• Fire Damage

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Root Tree Base Indicators
Water Soil Erosion
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Root Tree Base Indicators

• Wind-Throw

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Root Tree Base Indicators

• Basil Resin Flow

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Root Tree Base Indicators

• Mushrooms

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CHANGING CONDITIONS
Fire
Wind Weather
Insects Diseases
Management Activities
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Changing Conditions
Wind Weather
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Changing Conditions
Wind Weather
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Changing Conditions
Wind Weather
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Changing Conditions
Fire Wild Prescribed
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Changing Conditions
After the Fire
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Changing Conditions Beetle Infestation
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Changing ConditionsBeetle Infestation
Examples of beetle attacks on selected trees.
Beetles in and of themselves do not cause
structural defects. However, beetles do bring
in decay fungi that over time may cause
additional defects in the tree. .
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Changing Conditions
Root Rot Pockets
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Changing Conditions
Management Activities
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Changing Conditions
Management Activities
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YOUR TURN
What were the Indicators?
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YOUR TURN
What were the Indicators?
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YOUR TURN
Would you camp under this tree?
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YOUR TURN
What should you be thinking?
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YOUR TURN
Heads up!
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Were the Indicators there?
Fatality
Paraplegic
Broken Neck, Ribs,Teeth
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Small trees can cause serious injury.
Broken Neck, Ribs,Teeth
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YOUR TURN
The Lucky One.
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Assessment Tools

• Recognize indicators, then as appropriate, check
  it out further..
• Beyond a Glance
• Thump
• Dig at the Roots
• Chip at the Bark
• Bore

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Beyond a Glance Thumping

• Striking the bole with a solid object, usually
  the back of an axe, will produce a revealing
  tone.
• Practice thumping trees and then fell or bore to
  confirm suspicion.
• In time, and with good coaching, one will become
  proficient at predicting a tree boles condition.

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Beyond a GlanceDig at the Roots

• Digging around the roots will reveal
  important information. If the roots are really
  bad, you will know it. However, if you see good
  roots at the base of the tree this doesnt tell
  you if there are bad roots further away from the
  tree or in the tap root.
• Green and Solid
• Dead and Solid
• Rotten
• Burned
  Off or Damaged

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Beyond a Glance Chip at the Bark

• When the roots prove to be sound, and we remain
  curious about what afflicts this tree, chipping
  at the bark with and axe or saw may reveal fungus
  or insect infestation.

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Beyond a GlanceBore

• Using the tip of a chainsaw, a drill, or an
  increment bore, burrow into the interior of the
  bole and assess the wood.
• The nature of the chips, and the resistance to
  the cutting action will reveal the condition of
  interior wood.

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What did you learn?

• Indicators of Tree Structural Integrity
• Changing Conditions
• Beyond a Glance Assessment Tools

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WORDS OF WISDOM

• Develop a Curious Mind
• Seek Out Local Site Specific Information
• B e Aware Look Up, Down, All Around
• Mitigate Hazards Avoid or Eliminate

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Acknowledgements

• Kim Johnson, US Forest Service, Bitterroot
  NF, and Paul Chamberlin, USDI, Fish and Wildlife
  Service, thank the following individuals for
  their photos, slides and other contributions
• - Marcus Jackson, Blakey Lockman, Ken Gibson, US
  Forest Service, Region 1
• RC Carroll, US Forest Service, Region 1
• Nancy Trotter, Todd Wilson, Justin Abbey, Charlie
  Miller, Thomas Thompson, Linsey Strickland, US
  Forest Service, Region 1
• Winston Rall, US Forest Service, Region 6
• Keith Woods, US Forest Service, Aerial Fire
  Depot, Region 1
• John Pronos, US Forest Service, Region 5
• Krs Evans, US Forest Service, Region 5
• Guy Slaven, Alabama Forestry Commission

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Acknowledgements

• The Following Publications were used as
  information and photograph sources
• Evans and Bible, October 2003, Wildland
  Firefighter, Hotshot Down
• Hagle, Tunnock, Gibson, and Gilligan, 1987,
  Field Guide to Disease and Insect Pests of Idaho
  and Montana Forests, R1-89-54
• Hagle, Gibson, and Tunnock, 2003, Field Guide
  to Disease and Insect Pests of Northern and
  Central Rocky Mountain Conifers, R1-03-08
• Harvey and Hessburg, 1992, Long Range Planning
  for Developed Sites in the Pacific Northwest,
  FPM-TP039-92
• US Forest Service, R6, Disease Management
  Notes
• US Forest Service, R1, Montana Dept. of
  Natural Resources and Conservation and Idaho
  Dept. of Lands, Forest Insect and Diseases
  Identification and Management

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• THANK YOU

www.fs.fed.us/r1/projects/haztree_index.shtml