CTPA Updates - CTPA (Connecticut Tree Protective Association)

Encourage people to attend the CT Tree Climbing Competition!

April 24, 2017 by

And, consider attending yourself! Especially if you have not been to a CTCC before.

On Saturday, May 6th, CTPA will host the 13th annual CT Tree Climbing Competition. 25 climbers from Connecticut and the region around the state will compete. These climbers represent the range of people in professional tree care who climb trees – men and women, advanced climbers ‘in the peak of shape’ and much less experienced climbers – all fit in well at an event that is as much about camaraderie as it is about shaving seconds off of a timed event.

And, for an audience, the skill, athleticism and passion of the climbers can be highly engaging. This is a great showcase for what goes into tree care and professional arboriculture.

The 13th Annual CTCC will be held at Harrybrooke Park in New Milford – 100 Still River Dr, New Milford, CT 06776. CTPA members, especially those who live or work in the New Milford area, are encouraged to spread the word on the competition. CTPA has produced a poster and a press release to help in letting folks know about this event – please share these with anyone (a local fire department, the local newspaper) who might be interested.

Thanks for helping to spread the word.

Foot Locking

Work Climb

Work Climb

Request for Help with Honey Bee Research

April 11, 2017 by

CTPA has received an email from Dr. Rich Cowles at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, asking for assistance with his research on honeybees. Please, if you can help him locate wild bee hives, let him know:

Dear CTPA Members,

I have a favor to ask – would you please contact me when you encounter a bee tree (a tree housing a wild honeybee hive)?

I currently have a CT Dept. of Agriculture grant to work on improving the genetics of honey bees being kept in our state. One of the sources for superior genetics may be from feral bees. The thought is that these bees are maintaining their health and surviving, without needing the various treatments beekeepers have to use to maintain the bees in typical hives (protecting them from varroa mites, hive beetles, etc…). If so, they could represent particularly healthy stock that might provide good candidates for a breeding program.

The goal is hardier, managed colonies that do not have to be re-queened or replaced (due to the whole colony dying) as frequently.

There are two methods that I may use to obtain these feral populations. If a tree is not being taken down, then I may place a swarm trap nearby to intercept any swarms “thrown off” by the parent colony. If a hollow tree containing bees is being removed, I would be interested in having the colony being brought down intact, so that I may rescue the colony by hiving the bees.

This project will be active this year and through next year, too. Arborists should contact me directly when they find feral bees. My work phone number is given below. If it is extremely urgent (in the midst of tree removal and a colony is discovered!) then please call (860)683-4977 and ask for Rose. She can provide to you my cell phone number.

Thank you,

Richard S. Cowles, Ph.D.
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Valley Laboratory
Windsor, CT 06095
(860) 683-4983
Richard.Cowles@ct.gov

A Word From the Safety Committee – are you ready for spring?

April 2, 2017 by

Winter is ending and spring is nearly here! During the winter, we may do only a reduced amount of tree work or take a break from it completely. The skills acquired from tree work are just like any other skills in life. If you don’t use them, you lose them.

As you return to getting outside and doing field work you may find it helpful to do a quick review and skill check. Skills used in tasks like chainsaw handling and knot tying will deteriorate if not practiced regularly. As you head back to work, take some time to review your skills and practice them with co-workers or employees. Do this before getting back into potentially hazardous work situations. Practice should be in a controlled environment. Participants should be given the space to focus on the skill they are practicing.

A little time invested in the early season can boost safety and productivity!

train for being safe - chainsaw practice

Give yourself time to practice your skills – don’t assume you still have it all from last year. And, do a safety check as well!

Gypsy Moth Web Resources

March 21, 2017 by

In preparation for what may be another year of rising gypsy moth infestations, two state agencies have been preparing web resources to help inform the people of Connecticut. CTPA members and others are encouraged to check them out:

DEEP Gypsy Moth pages: www.ct.gov/deep/gypsymoths

CAES Gypsy Moth pages: www.ct.gov/caes/gypsymoth

Please feel free to share widely. CTPA did have a role in assisting with pulling together, especially, the DEEP pages. CTPA will also be a part of the press event on Thursday (March 23) announcing DEEP and CAES interest in getting information out regarding the gypsy moth.

Tree Wardens’ Association of Connecticut 25th Anniversary

March 17, 2017 by

The Tree Wardens’ of Connecticut is proud to announce their 25th Anniversary. To commemorate this event, they are having
a special annual meeting to be held at the Omni Hotel in New Haven, CT on Friday, April 28, 2017.

Dr. Michael Dirr – “In Praise of Noble Trees” – (Book available for purchase)

Eric Rutlow – “A Tragedy of Two Trees: American Elm and American Chestnut” (Book available for purchase)

Dr. Robert Ricard and Glen Dreyer – Historical Trees

Christy Haas and Peter Tyrell – Tree Identification Walk on the Historic New Haven Green

In the evening there is a fantastic dinner followed by an awards / graduation ceremony and entertainment!

To register, please print the registration form and mail to the Tree Wardens’ Association of CT:

Reschedule for Winter Tree ID Workshop to Thursday, March 16th!!!

March 10, 2017 by

Due to the forecast for snow on Tuesday, March 14th, the workshop has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 16th.

Many learn to identify trees by their leaves, but for 6 months of the year deciduous trees have no leaves.

In this workshop, John Kehoe will show is how to identify trees in the winter. There will be a classroom talk and an outdoor tree walk. Come dressed for the weather!!!

Forest Practitioner – 1 CEU, ISA – 3 CEU’s, Advanced Tree Warden – 3 CEU’s and (State of CT Arborist License) 3D – 3 CUE’s.

Legislative Update – CT Tree Legislation

March 5, 2017 by

The Legislative Season continues to move along, with several bills under consideration that are of potential interest to arborists and others involved in tree care. At this point in the session, there is something of winnowing process going on. At the start of the session, a large number of bills are proposed. Many never make it past the placeholder stage. Once the concept of the bill is proposed, it is never sketched out in any detail. Already, this appears to be the fate of several bills, such as HB-5623, a bill that would allow municipalities to regulate spite fences and spite trees and shrubs.

The CTPA Board keeps tracks of bills that it thinks are of concern to the member, especially as regards the arborist license. One such bill has arisen during this session. SB-836 has been proposed by DEEP in order to change the civil fines associated with the arborist license. Essentially, DEEP is seeking to streamline these structure behind these fines, bringing them into accord with other fines, such as those associated with pesticide violations.

Initially, the CTPA board opposed this bill, as it decreased the fines associated with unlicensed tree work and raised those fines associated with misuse of a license. However, the CTPA, led by President Bud Neal and Past President Charlie Iselin, did their homework. Bud contacted DEEP and spoke with the person most directly associated with the enforcement of the pesticide rules and of the arborist license. DEEP explained that the higher fines for enforcement against non-licensed individuals selling tree work actually worked against enforcement, as the size of those fines made it more difficult for DEEP to issue those fines – the legal requirements are more stringent once a fine gets above $1,000. By lowering the fines to $1,000 or less for these violations, DEEP actually has greater ability to enforce the law.

This discussion reassured Bud and Charlie as to DEEP’s intention regarding the arborist law. Both spoke at the public hearing, using their time before the Environment Committee to explain how DEEP and CTPA try to work as part of the same team with regards to license enforcement. Bud, on behalf of the Association, gave the Committee a rundown on the history, size and purpose of CTPA, while Charlie detailed the importance of these statutes to licensed arborists and how important it is for DEEP to have the tools it needs, in order promote quality tree care in the state.

Other bills of interest include HB-5655, which outlines the conditions by which a property owner may be liable for the expense of removing a fallen limb or tree, if that tree or tree part falls onto an adjacent property. A key part of the bill is the requirement that the individual who is concerned about the tree or limb falling must have that tree inspected by a Connecticut licensed arborist before failure, in order to be able to claim clean-up costs. This bill has been up in several previous sessions and even passed two years ago, before falling to the Governor’s veto. People who have been following this bill consider this version to be much improved over previous versions.

Another bill that has drawn the attention of the Tree Wardens Association is SB-507, which would establish procedures making it easier for commercial forest practitioners, certified by the State of Connecticut, to be considered as qualified to be tree wardens. The public hearing is to be held on this bill today (March 6, 2017). Currently, testimony has been running against passage of this bill.

CTPA will continue to keep an eye on legislation as it moves forward. CTPA is greatly assisted in its ability to track these bills through its membership in the CT Environmental Council (CT-EC). In particular, CT-EC tracks bills related to the application of pesticides.

These are not all of the tree related legislation proposed. CTPA members are encouraged to be in touch with their elected representatives and to be aware of the legislation that is being proposed in each session, especially as relates to their profession and their livelihood.

Drought Update Meeting – Monday, March 6th

March 1, 2017 by

Monday , March 6, 2017

Aquarion Water Company invites you to attend a drought update session hosted by the City of Stamford, and the Towns of Darien, Greenwich and New Canaan. Water-dependent businesses (such as irrigation, landscaping, plant nurseries, pool water haulers, and power washers) are encouraged to join us for this informational program which will explain the current drought status, as well as future expectations. Pleaseshare this invitation with other water-related businesses.

Meeting Details

Date: Monday, March 6, 2017

Time: 9:00am – 10:30 am

Location: The Gen Re Auditorium at UConn Stamford, One University Place, Stamford, CT 06901

Parking:

Parking is available for a fee at the UConn location. Click Here for directions to the UConn parking garage.

Free parking is available at the Stamford Government Complex. Visitor parking is on the 4^th floor. Click Here for directions to the Stamford Government Complex garage.

Presentations:

· Stamford rain and moisture irrigation sensor ordinance – City of Stamford

· Drought conditions and water restrictions update – Aquarion Water Company.

· Town-specific updates

Questions: Please email Twig Holland at Aquarion Water Company – tholland@aquarionwater.com

CT Climbing Competition – Harrybrooke Park, New Milford

February 17, 2017 by

This years Connecticut Tree Climbing Competition is at Harrybrooke Park, New Milford, CT.
This is an all day event that is open to the public.
If you are interested in being a competitive climber or a sponsor, please register on-line or
by mail.

If you are interested in being a volunteer, please call Bud Neal (203)577-8144 (cell)
or Cathy in the office (203)484-2512.

The Gypsy Moth 2016 Report from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station

February 6, 2017 by

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has published a map showing the extent of the 2016 gypsy moth outbreak. Individual outbreaks were heavily concentrated to the 4 eastern counties – Middlesex, New London, Windham and

2016 Map Showing Defoliation in Connecticut – map produced by CAES

Tolland Counties. Along with this map, the Station has published an updated Gypsy Moth Fact Sheet. These publications can be found on the CAES website at: www.ct.gov/caes/gypsymoth.

The Station should have numbers regarding acreage later in the week.

As for the outlook for 2017 – it depends. In those areas that suffered extensive defoliation in 2016, people should expect a large hatch of caterpillars. Egg masses in those areas are widespread and numerous.

The big question is what will happen as these caterpillars get older and move into the later instars. This is when the bulk of the defoliation occurs. Will we have had enough rain by then to activate the maimaiga fungus? Will the NPV virus spread through the population, killing off the caterpillars as they become crowded? This is hard to predict and is something we will just have to wait to see what happens.

It will be helpful, as we move into the season, for arborists to let the Experiment Station know if they note that the gypsy moth population is being knocked back in an area or if it seems to be moving into a new area.

The US Drought Monitor continues to show Connecticut as being in a drought. The drought is most severe in western parts of the state, but does cover the whole state.