Announcements, Calendar Items, Open Forum

	Gary Johnson announced that Bekky Hargrave would be completing her tenure as a graduate student in Urban Forestry at the University of Minnesota at the end of August 2001. She has been a valued partner in the urban forestry community while she has been here and has made some significant contributions, including: facilitating the creation and development of the Forest Resources Extension web site; revising the MnSTAC web site; developing the Minnesota Society of Arboriculture web site; participating in many volunteer activities and several presentations at conferences and workshops. Her energy and talents will be missed, and we all wish here the best of luck as a professional in urban forestry. Bekky received a sustained round of applause.
	Lorrie Stromme announced that there would not be any MnSTAC meeting in August. The next MnSTAC meeting is scheduled for September 20. Glen Shirley pointed out that September 20th conflicts with the Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network Workshop. Lorrie polled the members to see if the MnSTAC meeting should be changed to another date because of the conflict. There was no majority in favor of changing the regular date. Lorrie requested that the members watch the September MnSTAC mailing for the details of the date, time, and place of the next meeting.
	Don Mueller said that the Tour Des Trees would take place on August 5. The Tour is a big fund-raising event for the ISA Research Trust. Bicyclists will be riding from Minneapolis.
	Mike Zins announced that the Buckthorn Conference would take place on October 3, 2001, at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
	The “Working Landscape in the Midwest” seminar will take place on November 8-9 in Lake Devlin, Wisconsin. The website is www.workinglandscapes.org.
	Gary Johnson announced that Marie Jones had officially accepted the position of Research Specialist at the University of Minnesota.
	Lara Newberger announced that the MnSTAC Awards Committee was sponsoring a photo contest. The subject must relate to Minnesota community forestry and must portray the genuine relationship people share with trees. Each entry must be accompanied by a brief essay about the subject and why it was chosen. Submit entries by November 15, 2001, to: Lara Newberger, City of Plymouth, 14900 23rd Ave. N., Plymouth, MN 55447.

Field Reports

Japanese Beetle update: According to a news release issued by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Japanese Beetles have now become a serious pest in the Minneapolis Lyndale Park, which is located between King’s Highway, Lake Harriet, Lakewood Cemetery, and West 42nd Street in Minneapolis. Since July 1, 2001, the metallic green Japanese Beetles have taken to munching on roses, cannas, and other ornamental flowers in gardens in the target area. Japanese Beetles have not only been found in Lyndale Park, they have also been observed in private landscapes within a 5-mile radius of Lake Calhoun.

Jean Mouelle announced that the DNR has prepared an infrared photography data base of the metro area.

Jenny Juzwik reported that four oak wilt research projects funded by the State Legislature via LCMR are being “wrapped up” this summer. A special presentation of the research findings will be given at the November MnSTAC meeting. Some interesting “tidbits” from this research are: Aggregation pheromones have been used very effectively to study the flight activities of the two main Nitidulid insect vectors (Colopterus truncatus andCarpophilus sayi) in Minnesota. A significant percentage of the beetles attracted to pheromone traps in May in oak wilt centers had spores of the oak wilt fungus on their bodies. Root graft barriers installed in residential settings and part reserve oak wilt centers are being evaluated. GPS and GIS technology will allow theoretical evaluation of alternative models for placing the barrier lines as well as real evaluation of the placement model actually used in the sites.

Gary Johnson said that the University has several research projects currently being conducted that are related to urban forestry issues. All projects are cooperative projects between the Departments of Forest Resources and Horticultural Science, and all are located at the University’s TRE nursery on the St. Paul campus. The planting depth stud is in its second year. The first harvest of the trees will be after the third growing season. A new, stem-girdling-root experiments with poplars involves forcing roots to girdle stems and roots to girdle roots in an attempt to get anatomical evidence that differentiates between imbedding/compression and grafting.

	Also, plans are being developed to study the deterioration rate/s of burlap wrappings and twine in MN soils and climates, and finally, methods of containerizing trees at the proper depth without the problems of windthrow during production.
	An area of the TRE nursery will also be developed this fall as a utility arboriculture demonstration area, including best species for planting under lines, best pruning techniques, and the use of growth regulators to lengthen pruning cycles.
	Two new publications from the Department of Forest Resources are in production and should be available within a few months: Planting Trees and Shrubs for Long-term Health, by Bekky Hargrave, Gary R. Johnson, and Mike Zins. Also, a homeowner’s version of the Stem Girdling Roots publication, entitled Stem Girdling Roots: The Silent Killers?, by Dennis Fallon and Gary R. Johnson.

The Legislative Committee was successful in advocating for $300,000 for 2002, and $300,000 for 2003, for matching grants to protect native oak forests from oak wilt. Bruce Bacon announced that the Federal Farm Bill, which provides the majority of the funding for MnSTAC, is up for renewal this fall. Bruce encouraged people to contact their Congressional representatives to advocate for continued funding of urban and community forestry projects in the Farm Bill.

Gary Johnson reported that the Research and Education Committee is looking for ideas for the MnSTAC web site, in particular the home page. Currently, the home page has a feature on the Grandfather Oak transplanting process in Eagan. Members were encouraged to contact Gary Johnson or other committee members with ideas, especially for the home page feature. Gary also said that the Summer 2001 issue of The Advocate is being written.

Bruce Bacon, Environmental Specialist for the City of Ramsey, described oak wilt program that had been underway since the early 1990's. He said that the North Metro’s programs are working. However, oak owners need education. In Bruce’s view, oak wilt management operations should be decentralized; cost-sharing and partnerships are advisable.

Patrick Weicherding, U of MN Extension Educator in Anoka County, described Anoka County as the oak wilt capital of the world. There is a strong correlation between 1998 storm damage and oak wilt incidence. Unrestricted development in Anoka County has increased oak wilt outbreaks. Satellite imagery confirms that over 50% of the land is covered with development. Some municipalities are not fighting oak wilt. Patrick stressed the importance of monitoring and control efforts in every community.

Susan Burks, DNR, distributed copies of the DNR’s July 2001 Recommendations for Minnesota Oak Wilt Suppression. All oak wilt control operations shall include removal and disposal of potential spore trees (those symptomatic in the year of treatment) AND treatment of all non-symptomatic red oaks within the primary plow line (TTL). Acceptable TTL methods include tree removal, Alamo injection or herbicide treatment. TTL treatments are meant to control future overland spread, not spread via root grafts. Projects will not be funded that do not include some form of TTL application. Susan emphasized the need for communities – not just the DNR - to be informed about oak wilt and to act to control it. Development creates new infection sites, so control efforts seem never-ending.

Tim Edgeton, Sherburne County Forester, reported that Sherburne County’s oak wilt program began in 1991 in 5 cities at 27 sites. Now 1,500 – 2,000 diseased trees are removed each year. Tim said that the county’s fast growth is contributing to the problem, especially new septic systems and utilities installed. Although public awareness has increased, there is still a need to educate sub/contractors.

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