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- Written by: Lake County News reports
CDFA, in cooperation with the Lake County Agricultural Commissioner, Napa County Agricultural Commissioner, Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner, Cal Fire, University of California Cooperative Extension and the USDA - United States Forest Service, have started an extensive survey and outreach project, and are examining patterns of attack and management options, in response to the detection of Mediterranean oak borers in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties.
The survey is part of California’s pest prevention system that protects agriculture and natural resources from non-native invasive species.
Officials said early detection plays a key role in successfully controlling an infestation before it can spread to nearby areas.
To date, the area generally infested by the Mediterranean oak borer includes Pope Valley on the east; Seigler Mountain on the north; Calistoga on the south; and Knights Valley on the west. The primary infestation is in the Calistoga area.
The extensive survey, also known as a delimitation survey, consists of multiple Mediterranean oak borer traps placed outside of find sites. As beetles are trapped, traps are moved further away in order to see how far it has spread.
To date, the Mediterranean oak borer has been detected in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties with two detections in Contra Costa county in 2018. The Contra Costa detections were at a wood collection facility that included firewood.
Firewood is a pathway that can artificially spread the pest to other areas. Officials urge the public to “Buy It Where You Burn It, Don’t Move Firewood.” Visit www.firewood.ca.gov to learn more.
The Mediterranean oak borer is an ambrosia beetle native to Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, where it primarily attacks oak species. It attacks at least 12 species of oaks.
In California, it has been found infesting two species of white oak, most commonly valley oak and, to a lesser extent, blue oak. A single, very limited attack was found in a severely distressed California black oak.
The Mediterranean oak borer creates tunnels (or galleries) in the trunks and branches of host trees while continuing to multiply. It initially attacks the crown of the tree, where it will kill individual limbs. Infestation can continue over several growing seasons, eventually invading the main trunk and killing the entire tree. Infested trees become hazards when widespread tunnels undermine the strength of limbs, making limbs susceptible to falling.
Additionally, Mediterranean oak borer beetles grow fungi inside their tunnels and use it for food for larvae and adults. Some of the fungi may be pathogenic and cause tree decline, structural failure, and in some cases tree death.
If you have a tree that you believe to be infested, please contact the appropriate agricultural office below and take the following steps to help stop the spread of Mediterranean oak borer:
• Moving infested wood artificially spreads the pest to other areas. Buy it where you burn it, don’t move firewood.
• Chip infested wood as small as possible (1 to 3 inches in diameter chipped pieces).
• Solarization of both chips and logs is recommended. Cover the wood with sturdy plastic (clear if possible) and leave in the sun for six weeks (summer) to six months (winter). Make sure the chips or logs (and beetles) are fully contained by wrapping the plastic sheet fully underneath and over the material and place soil or rocks to secure the edges.
Federal, state, and county agricultural officials work year-round, 365 days a year, to prevent, deter, detect, and eliminate the threat of invasive species and diseases that can damage or destroy our agricultural products and natural environment. These efforts are aimed at protecting California’s natural environment and keeping our food supply plentiful, safe, and pest-free.
Residents with questions about the project or believe they may have the Mediterranean oak borer may call the Lake County Agricultural Commissioner’s office at 707-263-0217; the Napa County Agricultural Commissioner’s office at 707-253-4357; the Sonoma County Agricultural Commissioner’s office at 707-565-2371; or CDFA’s Pest Hotline at (800) 491-1899.
Additional information, including the University of California MOB Pest Alert can be found here and you can report-a-pest here.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Thompson will host the online event from 7 to 8 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, Aug. 6.
He will be joined by special guest Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08), member of the House Education and Labor Committee and pediatrician for a discussion about the congressional response to the coronavirus pandemic.
This is the 12th in a series of virtual town halls Thompson has hosted this spring and summer. All constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District and members of the press are invited to join.
This event will be held over Zoom and interested participants must email Thompson’s office in order to join, as the platform has a capacity of 500 people.
Interested participants will be notified via email with instructions on how to join.
The event will also be streamed on Facebook Live via Thompson’s page, https://www.facebook.com/RepMikeThompson/ .
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Cal Fire said Tuesday night that firefighters had held the Sites fire to 560 acres, with containment up to 90 percent.
The fire began on Sunday afternoon along Sites Lodoga Road and Campground Road, southeast of Stonyford.
Thanks to the progress made by fire crews made, evacuations and road closures were lifted on Monday night, as Lake County News has reported.
Fire crews on Tuesday continued work on containment lines and mop up, officials said.
Cal Fire said 240 personnel and 14 fire crews remained assigned to the incident as of Tuesday night.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Firefighters and sheriff’s deputies responded to the crash at around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday in the area of Clover Valley Road and Bambi Lane, according to radio reports.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said when deputies arrived on scene they located the helicopter, a small privately-owned Cavalon Rotorcraft, resting upright in a field.
Deputies found the pilot and passenger conscious and alert, officials said.
Northshore Fire personnel responded to the scene and provided treatment to the helicopter’s occupants, who were later flown by separate air ambulances to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and Vacaville, according to radio reports.
Sheriff Brian Martin told Lake County News that the initial reports indicated that one person had minor injuries and the other moderate injuries. As of early Tuesday afternoon, there had not been an update on the extent of their injuries.
Martin said his agency had notified both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board of the crash.
“We’re assisting with their investigation,” he said, adding, “They are providing direction to our investigators.
Martin said he didn’t yet have information about what caused the crash.
The sheriff’s office is securing the scene for further investigation by the FAA and NTSB.
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