This is a tragedy for the family -- and our prayers are with them as they try to find a way forward.
Unfortunately, the reality is that there is a much greater risk of harm to life in our metropolitan civilized cities -- than in our outdoor recreation areas.
One of the quotes in one of the news accounts is from a NP spokesperson, who basically states that the current 4 year drought has nothing to do with this incident.
I do not believe this is an accurate statement.
We are impacted by a severe lack of water -- which in turn has weakened all trees in the forest, reduced sap production which is one way trees ward off insects, along with dry and brittle limbs, trunks and roots.
The Pine Beetle infestation is able to attack pine trees that cannot produce enough sap to protect against the beetle. This is the tree's main system of protection and good health.
This is only affecting the pine trees -- not the Oaks, Cedars, and all of the others. However, the lack of moisture for the last 4 years has severely weakened all types of trees, brush, and plants in the forest.
We live at 4400', in the Sierra National Forest -- just about halfway between Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Our 2.5 acres has a nice mix of Pine, Cedar, Manzanita, and Black Oak trees. We have at least 12 trees that must come down before Winter due to Beetle, or dead due to a lack of moisture.
In talking with a professional forester who does work with the Forest Service and Cal-Fire -- I mentioned that I had read a piece in the paper stating that the Forest Service has estimated there are over 5,000,000 dead or dying pine trees in just the Sierra National Forest. He said they had just completed an aerial survey using pics and computers to establish the scope of the beetle infestation -- and have identified 44,000,000 pine trees in the SNF, that are dead or dying. When I asked him if we were going to lose all of the pines in the forest -- he stated that the forest is very resilient -- and although this level of drought with dead and dying trees has never been encountered before -- the forest will survive.
Today, at 2:01 PM, this afternoon -- one of our Black Oak trees just broke in the middle of its trunk -- about 25' up from the ground. From the outside, this tree appeared healthy -- green leaves, good canopy, no apparent issues. Likely around 100 years old. We feel due to the weakened condition due to lack of moisture -- this tree just broke in half -- no wind. This tree was more than 3 feet at the base -- not counting the burl growths on each side.
Tomorrow or Tuesday, we will have a pro inspect the tree -- we have two others closer to our house of about the same vintage -- and they unfortunately may need to come down for safety's sake.
This tree may have been already weak or older -- but the lack of moisture sped along it's demise. I know all trees die eventually -- but there are too many conditions happening at one time to ignore this issue..
Best,
Fred
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