CTPA Updates

2021 Legislative Update

March 1, 2021 by CTPA Admin

Connecticut’s State Legislature is well into the 2021 session. There are a few bills in the current session that are likely of interest to CTPA members. Those relating to trees are listed below. Those relating to pesticides will be covered in a separate post.

In reviewing the list, note that there are a couple with Public Hearings coming up this week (the week of March 1st). Public Hearings are being held virtually. If you are interested in watching or participating, please visit the web page of the respective Legislative Committee for details. If you wish to submit comments, also visit the Committee web page for further information.

The bills can be tracked on their own web pages. The bill numbers are linked for easy access.

Please feel free to share your interests regarding these or any other legislative activities with the CTPA Board. Greg Foran, Kevin Wyatt and Pat Flynn are the best contacts for this on the Board. You should also feel free to contact Cathy Dvorsky at the CTPA office.

List of Tree Related Legislation:

HB 5598: AN ACT CONCERNING A PROPERTY OWNER’S LIABILITY FOR THE EXPENSES OF REMOVING A FALLEN TREE OR LIMB.
This is a new bill. It would define that responsibility of a property owner if his/her tree were to fall on a neighbor’s property. It would give a role in this to arborists.
Public Hearing date: March 3, 2021 – Judiciary Committee
Note – Bills 5059 and 5356 were basically identical bills that are now stalled.

SB 950: AN ACT CONCERNING THE REPLACEMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITY POLES AND REVISING VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IN UTILITY PROTECTION ZONES.
This is a revision of an existing statute. This bill would substantially increase the authority of utilities to do tree pruning and removals within the utility protection zone when there are 3 phase wires within that UPZ. This has direct reference to the authority of the tree wardens in these situations.
Public Hearing date: March 4, 2021 – Joint Committee on Energy and Technology

HB 5936: AN ACT CONCERNING DAMAGES INCURRED BY A PROPERTY OWNER DUE TO FALLING TREES OR TREE LIMBS FROM NEIGHBORING PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED BY THE STATE.
This is a new bill. It would create a statutory assumption of liability by the state in the case of a state-owned tree falling in whole or in part onto private property with such liability being limited to the actual costs of removal by a licensed arborist.
No Public Hearing date set as of yet. Joint Committee on the Judiciary

SB 266: AN ACT CONCERNING NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS AND HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS.
This bill is an update of the Home Improvement Contractors Law. It would state that “home improvement” does not include “tree cutting or the grinding of stumps of trees or shrubs”.
Public Hearing held on January 28, 2021. Passed out of the Joint Committee on General Law and is on its way to the Office of Legislative Research and the Office of Fiscal Analysis. (note – edited March 2, 2021)

HB466: AN ACT CONCERNING VEGETATION MANAGEMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
This bill would require the Department of Transportation to manage vegetation along highways and railroad corridors to curtail unnecessary tree pruning and removal and to prohibit the use of clear cutting in lieu of vegetation management and conserve urban and edge forests through adherence to guidelines developed to accomplish such goals.
No Public Hearing date set as of yet. Joint Committee on the Environment

SB398: AN ACT CONCERNING DEAD AND DYING TREES ON MUNICIPAL ROADS AND PUBLIC LANDS.
This bill would establish a five-year 2 municipal grant program to address dying trees along municipal roads 3 and on public lands.
No Public Hearing as of yet. Committee on Appropriations.

HB6441: AN ACT CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION.
This bill would allow each town to create a buyer’s conveyance fee that could be used, among other purposes, for the funding of environmental projects, including, but not limited to, urban forestry and planting of trees.
No Public Hearing date as of yet. Governor’s Bill, Joint Committee on the Environment

HB6164: AN ACT REQUIRING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY TO ADOPT REGULATIONS FOR NATURAL BARRIER PRESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE
A bill to require utility companies to maintain and preserve natural barriers, including trees or other vegetation, between such company’s facilities and any residential neighbors to such facility.
No Public Hearing as of yet. Joint Committee on Energy and Technology. HB6165 is identical.

CTPA’s Allied Members

February 8, 2021 by CTPA Admin

CTPA Allied Member List – February 2021

In this time of COVID, as the pandemic drags on and we all do what we need to in order to keep each other safe, the CT Tree Protective Association encourages its member not to forget the Allied Members of the Association. The Allied Members of CTPA fulfill an important role in the industry. They are those firms and organizations that provide equipment, materials, supplies and services for those in tree care within the state. Their contributions are important to all who are members of CTPA.

In a normal year, we would look forward to catching up the representatives of these Allied Member organizations and businesses at our Annual Meeting. As that was not possible this year, we wanted to sure that we shared an up-to-date list of those members. Please take a look at this list, especially as you consider your needs for equipment and supplies for this upcoming year.

All the best for a successful 2021 season!

CTPA Annual Meeting to Be Presented On-Line on January 21, 2021

January 4, 2021 by CTPA Admin

CTPA’s Annual Meeting

When: Thursday, January 21, 2021

Where: Online, via Zoom, from 8:45 am to 1:15 pm

CEUs available: 4.25 for Connecticut Arborists (Category 3D) and for Ornamental and Turf License Holders (Category 3A). CT Forest Practitioners are eligible to receive 1.5 credits, while TWAC members may receive 4.0. ISA Arborist CEUs are pending. The TCIA CTSP program is not offering credits. Details on the process to followed to receive CEUs are listed at the end of this announcement.

How to Register: Online, via the CTPA web site (registration form may not be available until after 1/6/2021)

Registration Fee: $45 members, $60 non-members. Members may register non-members at the member rate.

Recordings: This meeting will be recorded. Only people who have registered may access the recording. People will only need to register once. People who attend the meeting as it occurred may also access the recorded version after the meeting based on their pre-meeting registration. People who did not register before the meeting and did not attend it live may register after the meeting and view the recording. The registration process post-meeting is the same as it is pre-meeting, as are the registration fees.

Meeting Details

8:45 to 9:00 – Annual Business Meeting

During the Business Meeting, Officers and Board Members for 2021 will be elected. The Slate of Candidates has been announced. Also during the Business Meeting, the 2020 finances will be reviewed.

9:00 to 9:20 – Update from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

Dr. Jason White, Director of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, will present highlights from the Station’s activities during 2020. This is also CTPA’s opportunity to welcome Dr. White as Station Director. He succeeded Dr. Ted Andreadis in this role, after Dr. Andreadis stepped down earlier this past year.

9:20 to 10:20 – Drought and Urban Trees

This meeting is also our opportunity to welcome Dr. Susanna Kerio, who joined the Experiment Station staff during this past calendar year. Appointed as a researcher within the Department of Forestry and Horticulture, Dr. Kerio brings a background in forest pathology and tree physiology, with a specialty on urban trees.

Susanna’s describes her talk:

Connecticut has suffered from record droughts within the last decade, which has caused crop losses, tree deaths, and had negative effects on public health. Urban trees have critical importance for public health and habitability of urban areas. However, the water stress associated with the recent drought events has reduced urban tree growth and their capacity to provide shading, cooling, and other benefits. This talk will provide an outline of drought trends in Connecticut and how drought affects urban tree health. The talk presents the most recent knowledge on the factors that affect water availability in urban trees, how these effects can be quantified, and discusses how this knowledge can be used in tree health management.

10:20 to 10:30 – Break

10:30 to 11:45 – Here Comes Trouble: invasive insects, diseases, hurricanes and climate change have brought a new batch of pests to the area

Don Gabel, New York Botanical Garden’s Director of Plant Health, will provide an overview of the changes coming to our region in the face of weather events and environmental change. At NYBG, he monitors, diagnoses, and prescribes treatments for all the plants growing on the grounds, including in the gardens and glass houses. He also helps in educating and advising the staff and in teaching the public about the many aspects of horticulture.

In his talk, Dan will take a closer look at how environmental influences have impacted today’s landscape management. These include the invasive insects and pathogens associated with the beech bark disease complex, beech leaf disease and the spotted lanternfly. He will also discuss oak wilt and its connection with Tropical Storm Isaias, and climate change, with a closer look at the symptoms, biology, local occurrences and controls associated with the southern pine beetle.

11:45 to 11:55 – Break and Announcement of the 2021 CTPA Arborist Scholarship

During the break, this year’s recipient of the CTPA Arborist Scholarship will be announced.

11:55 to 12:15 – Update from the DEEP Pesticide Program

Diane Jorsey, Program Lead for the DEEP Pesticide Management Program, will update attendees as to the status of the Arborist Licensing and other Pesticide Supervisory Programs within DEEP. Among the topics to be discussed will be the elicensing program now being implemented within DEEP.

12:15 to 1:15 – Restoration Pruning: After the Storm, Head for Better Form

Guy Meilleur is well-known in arboricultural circles as a highly accomplished and innovative arborist, tree expert, consultant and author. He is the principal arborist with Historic Tree Care in the Durham, NC area. Guy has previously spoken at a CTPA Annual Meeting.

One of Guy’s areas of expertise is working with trees following storm damage, with a particular focus on the techniques to used and the steps to be taken in order to help the tree restore itself, as to form and health. During this talk, he will outline the approach that he recommends and the timing involved in restorative pruning. Guy’s experience with storm damage and restorative pruning is extensive.

A Note on CEUs

DEEP Supervisory Licenses (3A and 3D)

Only individuals who have registered either for the meeting or to view its recordings may receive CEUs. Registration may be before the meeting or, for those who just want to view the recordings, after the meeting. Those who register to attend the meeting will not need to re-register. The registration fee will be the same, whether registration occurs before or after the meeting. If you wish to receive CEUs, be sure to register under your own name and have provided your DEEP license number.

In order to receive CEUs, attendees and recording viewers must pass a quiz for each section of the meeting. There will be 3 quizzes total. Quizzes will be made available through a link that will provided on the last slide of each of the three educational sessions. The quiz link provided after Dr. Kerio’s session will cover her talk and Dr. White’s update. The quiz link provided after Don Gable’s session will cover his talk. The quiz link provided after Guy Meilleur’s talk will cover his session as well as Diane Jorsey’s update. Each quiz will consist of 10 questions. The passing score for each quiz is 80%. Individual may re-take quizzes that they did not pass. Quizzes may be taken at any time and must be submitted to CTPA for scoring. Attendees will only receive CEUs for the quizzes they take and pass. Attendees do not need to take all 3 quizzes.

The CEUs available from each of the three quizzes are:

Quiz 1, covering Dr. Kerio’s and Dr. White’s talks – 1.25 DEEP credits (3A or 3D)

Quiz 2, covering Don Gabel’s talk – 1.75 DEEP credits (3A or 3D)

Quiz 3, covering Guy Meilleur’s and Diane Jorsey’s talks – 1.25 DEEP credits (3A or 3D)

ISA CEUs, DEEP Forest Practitioner CEUs and TCIA CTSP CEUs are pending at this time.

Non-Pesticide Certifications

For CT Forest Practitioner and ISA Arborist, be sure to include your certification in the form when you register. The registration list will be sent to the appropriate organization. Proof of attendance slips for CT Forest Practitioner will be sent out following the meeting.

If there are any questions, please contact the CTPA office.

Looking for Nominations for the 2021 Annual Meeting Awards

October 1, 2020 by CTPA Admin

The family, friends and co-workers, of Fred Grimshaw gather as the Award of Merit Plaque for 2020 is presented in his honor.

The Connecticut Tree Protective Association regularly honors individuals who have made significant contributions to arboriculture and to the care and protection of Connecticut’s trees. These awards are given annually and presented at the Annual Meeting. The CTPA Board of Directors is requesting nominees for awards for the upcoming Annual Meeting oin January 2021 and encourages you to nominate someone whom you feel deserves special recognition.

Award Categories:

Award of Merit– This award is presented to a CTPA member who has shown exemplary professionalism and dedication and made outstanding contributions to the care and protection of Connecticut’s trees.
Arborist Citation– This award is presented to a non-member who has shown exemplary dedication to the care and protection of Connecticut’s trees.

If you know of someone that is deserving of either of these awards, please print out the nomination form and email (info@ctpa.org) or fax (203)793-7924 to the CTPA office.

The deadline for nominations is Monday, December 7, 2020.

CTPA Scholarship Applications Now Being Accepted for 2021

October 1, 2020 by CTPA Admin

Leeane Marvin is honored as one of the two recipients of the CTPA Arborist Scholarship for 2020.

CTPA is seeking applicants for the 2021 Arborist Scholarship. This $2,000 scholarship is being offered to undergraduate students who are residents of Connecticut studying urban forestry or arboriculture. Students do not need to be attending college in Connecticut.

The Association plans to offer two scholarships this year. The due date for applications is December 7, 2020. The name(s) of the 2021 award winner(s) will be announced at the 2021 Annual Meeting.

Please click on the button to print out the application forms

This is the 20th year in which CTPA has offered this scholarship, with 32 scholarships awarded since 2001.

If anyone has any questions, please contact the CTPA office (203-484-2512 or info@ctpa.org).

DEEP Resumes Written Testing for Pesticide Licenses on a Limited Basis

September 2, 2020 by CTPA Admin

The Pesticide Management Program within DEEP has begun limited written license testing, including for supervisory licenses such as the Arborist License. As described on their website:

Effective 8/31/2020, Supervisor Exams are being temporarily administered at Lockwood Farm Pavilion, weather permitting. Junior Operator exams will continue be administered in an online format. Private Applicator Exams will soon be available in an online format. Applications may be submitted through the mail, you will be given your test date and time by email. Any questions or concerns can be directed to: DEEP.PesticideProgram@ct.gov.

Further details regarding the testing process, including access to application forms, are available on-line at: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Pesticides/Pesticide-Management-Program

The Tree ID and Oral Exams given by the Tree Protection Examining Board have not ceased during COVID. They were simply moved to Lockwood Farm in Hamden in order to provide for a more outdoor venue and greater social distancing. The next Tree ID / Oral Exam will be held on Wednesday, September 9th.

American Chestnut Foundation Looking for Help in Climbing Chestnuts

September 2, 2020 by CTPA Admin

The following was received from Jack Swatt, President of the CT Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. To reach Mr. Swatt, please call 203-592-4686 or email him at jswattchestnut@gmail.com.

From Mr. Swatt:

Our state chapter is currently looking for climbing arborists who would like to help us restore an iconic species which has become functionally extinct since a blight fungus was introduced over 100 years ago. We are trying to breed a blight resistant American chestnut tree that we can hopefully use to repopulate the eastern forests someday. American chestnut trees growing healthy enough to flower and produce nuts are an uncommon occurrence and we are trying to conserve the genetic diversity of the species by planting nuts from these trees in Germplasm Conservation Orchards. Most surviving chestnut trees that we find are usually stunted and diseased from the blight, so the few that do flower and produce nuts are usually reachable with ladders. Occasionally, we do find some taller trees growing close to roads or trails that we can get a bucket truck close enough to harvest them. The taller chestnut trees growing out in the forests away from trails are the real challenge for us. Last year, one of the Eversource arborists that we were working with had mentioned seeing if some climbing arborists could help us with collecting burs from those trees, which led us to this request.

We have contacted some climbing arborists in the Northwest corner of the state who offered to help us with trees in that area. We are hoping to reach out to climbing arborists in all areas of the state who could help us with trees that are located in their vicinity. This year we were hoping to harvest burs from trees in Gillette’s Castle SP (East Haddam), Natchaug SF (Pomfret), town-owned conservation land in Plainfield, and on private property in Lebanon. We are continually being notified about chestnut trees throughout the year and more trees may be added to this list at any time. I understand that you are probably very busy given the recent tropical storm that came through the state. If you would like to help us, please let me know. We usually start harvesting burs in mid-September. If you know of any other climbing arborists who might also like to get involved, please feel free to forward them my contact information.

Soil Diagnostics and Management Programs: the Third of CTPA’s Summer Meeting Webinars to Take Place on Thursday

August 24, 2020 by CTPA Admin

This Thursday, August 27, at noon-time, Dr. Kelby Fite of Bartlett Tree Experts will present a webinar on soil diagnostics and management. Dr. Fite is a Vice President at Bartlett and is Director of the Bartlett Research Lab in North Carolina. His research has focused on the interrelationship between soils and roots and how various tree planting strategies influence the long-term health of trees.

This webinar will be the third in the series that CTPA has organized as the virtual replacement of its Summer Meeting. There will be one more following this Thursday’s presentation. On September 3rd, Dr. Robert Marra of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station will talk about beech leaf disease. This is a newly emerging disease in Connecticut that Dr. Marra has been tracking closely.

These webinars are being presented at no cost and are open to all who wish to attend. CEUs are available, but – please note – in order to receive CEUs one must first register with CTPA. Receipt of credits is dependent on successfully taking a quiz. A link to this quiz will be posted at the end of the webinar.

For details on the soil diagnostic webinar, please visit
https://ctpa.org/events/event/free-zoom-webinar-soil-diagnostics-and-management-programs/. Once you register, you will automatically receive the Zoom link.

For details on the beech leaf disease webinar, please visit
https://ctpa.org/events/event/free-zoom-webinar-beech-leaf-disease/.

These webinars are to be recorded and will be available for future viewing. CEUs can also be earned for viewing the recorded versions, if one has not earned CEUs from watching the webinar live.

The recorded videos along with the opportunity to earn CEUs are posted for the first two webinars. Please note – for these webinars – if you wish to earn CEUs, even though these are recorded webinars, you must also still register first with CTPA. You will be prompted to register when you click on the link to the recorded version.

The link for the recording of the first webinar, an update on CT’s insects and diseases, is https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/psxWKqHA3HFIec_tw03cWvMeLIK9aaa81yNI-PENzky2zmhfy0snqPyqgwAAiUfg?startTime=1597334377000

The link for the recording of the second webinar, a discussion of loading and forces in connection to anchor points in tree climbing, is
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/ypJ8LozgzEFLbavjxkjNVJBwQ7XiT6a8hyhNr_cPmRtoN_s04VyXqRDCzKqoRW50?startTime=1597939177000

For further information, please contact Cathy at the CTPA office – cathy@ctpa.org.

FREE ZOOM Webinars by CTPA

July 27, 2020 by CTPA Admin

This year has been unique for everyone. All have been impacted by the virus in some way. We sincerely hope that you are doing well and that the pandemic has not touched you or your family personally. Meanwhile, on behalf of its members, CTPA continues to work to fulfill its educational mission. We know that the workshops we are offering are an incomplete substitute for the Summer Meeting. We firmly believe it is only right to provide these workshops free of charge as a way of thanking you for all your loyalty and support over the years. Of course, we will miss seeing everyone this summer gathered as in the past, at a lively and productive Summer Meeting. We look forward to when we will be able to see everyone again.
Sincerely,
Allan Fenner, President and
the CTPA Board of Directors

Registration for ZOOM Webinars:
• People will be able to view these webinars either live or recorded and receive ceu’s either way.
• All people who wish to participate in these educational sessions live must register in advance,
through ZOOM. The link to ZOOM is posted on the CTPA website (www.ctpa.org).
• Links to the recorded sessions will be posted following their live delivery.
• There are four sessions. Please be sure that you have registered for each session individually.
• Participants in the live sessions will have an opportunity to ask questions of the presenters.
• For those wishing to receive ceu’s, registration with CTPA in advance is important. For the live
version, this means registering through Zoom. For the recorded videos, this means sending an
email to CTPA stating that you wish to watch the videos. Please include your name, address and
license number. Email the request to cathy@ctpa.org. Without this pre-registration, we cannot
guarantee that you will be able to receive ceu’s.
• At the end of each session, whether live or recorded, you will be given the address of a web page.
This web address will take you to a quiz. Take note of this web address. You must complete
this quiz with a passing grade of 80% or greater in order to receive ceu credits. Once you pass
the quiz, the ceu sheet will be mailed to you. Keep this sheet for your records, to be turned in at
the time of your license renewal.
• Please visit the CTPA website (Events Calendar) for details regarding registering and gaining ceu’s.

August 13, 2020 12pm – 1pm 3(D) – 1 CEU, 3(A) – 1 CEU, Advanced Certified Tree Warden – 1 CEU
“CAES Updates”- Katherine Dugas and Yonghao Li, PhD. – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven
Katherine Dugas and Yonghao Li will discuss the latest information concerning insects and diseases of trees.

Click here to Register in advance with ZOOM for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7VMqLhYnQAeTeUl0cRYoFg

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August 20, 2020 12pm – 3(D) – 1 CEU, Advanced Certified Tree Warden – 1 CEU, TCIA CTSP – PENDING
“Forces at an Anchor When Climbing and Rigging.” – Brian Kane, PhD. – University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Have you ever wondered how much force is at the anchor point when you climb or rig? Does it matter whether you climb on
a stationary or moving rope? Or whether you use a canopy or basal anchor? Or if you use a block or friction rings? In this
webinar, we will present the results of some recent research that measured all of these scenarios.

Click here to Register for the ZOOM webinar in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g2-vyJjNSKCEzXKVuO4aKA

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August 27, 2020 12pm-1pm 3(D) – 1 CEU, 3(A) – 1 CEU, Advanced Certified Tree Warden – 1 CEU
“Soil Diagnostics and Management Programs.” -Dr. Kelby Fite – Bartlett Tree Experts
The session will discuss the basics of soil diagnostics and how to interpret soil performance. Basic functions of the essential
nutrients will be highlighted and how their deficiencies impact plant performance.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

September 3, 2020 12pm – 1pm 3(D) – 1 CEU, Advanced Certified Tree Warden – 1 CEU
“Beech Leaf Disease” – Robert E. Marra, PhD. – The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven
Dr. Robert Marra will discuss the signs and symptoms of Beech Leaf Disease, and current understanding about its development, spread, and management. He will also bring us up to date on oak wilt disease.

If you have any questions, please call the office at 203 484-2512.
For more information please go to CTPA website – www.CTPA.org

Beech Leaf Disease – A New Threat to Connecticut

June 22, 2020 by CTPA Admin

In August 2019, a new disease that affects beech trees was detected in Connecticut for the first time, along the Mianus River between

Beech Leaf Disease. This heavily infected leaf shows late season damage from this past August. The photo was taken in Greenwich.

Stamford and Greenwich. Beech Leaf Disease was first reported in North America in Ohio, in 2012. It was soon found in areas around the upper Midwest and in adjacent parts of Canada. It has since been moving east, but had not been found in this region until this past year.

The disease is caused by an Asian nematode, Litylenchus crenatae, which attacks both American and European beeches. It is known to kill trees that have been heavily infested over several years. Beyond that, not a lot is known about this organism and the disease that it causes. That includes knowledge as to how it spreads, where it currently is in Connecticut and how it might be treated.

Dr. Bob Marra of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has taken the lead on researching this disease in Connecticut. He is working with foresters at CT DEEP Forestry seeking to locate occurrences of this disease . He is also very interested in hearing from arborists, tree wardens and others who believe they may have encountered the disease. All information will be helpful.

The disease is not hard to spot during the growing season. The symptoms on the leaves are very evident. Tell-tale is readily apparent, interveinal discoloration, dark-green early in the season and then yellow later on, as the season progresses. This gives the leaves an odd, striped appearance. The infestation, though, may start at the top of the tree. As such, these indications of an infested tree may not be readily visible from the ground. A pair of binoculars or a close examination of a felled tree may help in spotting the disease.

Please see the Beech Leaf Disease Pest Alert published by the Plant Disease Information Office at CAES to learn more about the disease.

If you think you may have found Beech Leaf Disease, please report it to Dr. Marra at Robert.Marra@ct.gov. In addition to your contact information, please be sure to include the town in which you have found the suspected tree and, if possible, the exact location. A photo of a leaf and of the tree would also be helpful.

Bob will be giving an update on the Beech Leaf Disease in Connecticut at CTPA’s virtual Summer Meeting.

Award Categories:

Contact CTPA