Background:
- Canopy trees are/were 90 years old, likely started after a fire, heavy logging, and/or grazing
Overstorey was 88% red and white oak. - Provincial land under long-term lease to the Town for passive recreation and conservation.
- Forest was overstocked, meaning that many of the trees were not growing well.
- Gypsy Moth first caused problem around 1987, likely a few smaller problems in the 1990s and heavy infestation in 2000.
- Serious drought since 1997.
- Very heavy frost in early June 2000.
- These factors caused a dramatic decline in tree health.
Health Problems and Current Situation:
- With trees under extreme stresses, secondary pests (diseases and insects that attack weakened trees) started to kill the trees.
- It is likely that the twolined chestnut borer attacked the stressed trees, killing them or weakening them further.
- Shoestring root rot (Armillaria) then began to decompose the dead roots and wood, or
finished off severely stressed trees. - Two other decay fungi have colonized the recently dead trees. The hyphae (yellowish fuzz on bark) and fruiting bodies (bracket fungi) can be seen on many trees.
- Approximately 90% of the oaks in the overstorey are dead or dying (80% of the overstorey).
- There is little oak regeneration in the forest.
- Oak regenerates well from stump sprouts, but not from dead stumps.
- The Woods has been closed to the public for safety reasons.
Plans:
- In the spring of 2008, a fourth prescribed burn will be conducted to release oak regeneration. Following the prescribed burn staff will be conducting targeted stem removal of selected larger competing vegetation as well as pro-actively planting red oak saplings.
For more information, please contact John McNeil, Manager of Forestry, at 905-845-6601, ext. 3395 or jmcneil@oakville.ca.
