Healthy hemlock forests in Great Smoky Mountains National Park not only provide shade for hikers, but they also keep streams cool. Photo by Bailey Lombardo via Friends of the Smokies.
From time to time we bring you stories about insecticide spraying in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to combat a non-native pest that is a threat to the park's stands of Eastern hemlock trees.
Another chapter of that saga comes from Friends of the Smokies, which raises funds to help carry that battle to the pests.
The focus of all this work is the hemlock woolly adelgid, an Asian pest that arrived in the western United States in 1924 and was first identified in the eastern section of the country in 1951. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, "Hemlock woolly adelgid sucks fluid from the base of hemlock needles. It may also inject toxins into the tree as it feeds, accelerating needle drop and branch dieback. Although some trees die within four years, trees often persist in a weakened state for many years. Hemlocks that have been affected by hemlock woolly adelgid often have a grayish-green appearance (hemlocks naturally have a shiny, dark green color)."
Now, it's been nearly a decade since these pests reached the Smokies, according to the friends group. Fortunately, the non-profit's efforts have seen considerable success in battling the insect in the park. Donated funds help hire crews and equipment to do the insecticide spraying in the park, and they also have helped create "the Lindsay Young Beneficial Insects Laboratory at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to raise predator beetles to release in the park and elsewhere to kill the adelgids."
To date, the park's hemlock crews have hand-treated more than 140,000 trees in nearly 4,000 acres of special hemlock conservation areas. They have treated another 600 acres along roads, campgrounds, and picnic areas with a naturally-based insecticidal soap. Since 2002, the insect lab has provided more than 500,000 predator beetles to release in the park.
... Thankfully, we have more encouraging results to share from the Smokies. Treatments originally expected to last only 2-3 years are showing positive results for as long as 5-10 years. Treatment costs have come down. A new, naturally-based insecticide, dinotefuran, is showing even better effects for the park's tallest hemlocks. Park researchers have recovered live beetles from releases as far back as 2002, providing promise that they will sustain themselves in the wild for the long term. Also, some small (10-30 acre), higher-elevation stands are surviving untreated, because of colder winter temperature fluctuations and rime ice.
To continue this battle, however, takes money. And the friends group notes that it could take many more years to find the right approach to rid the park's forests of the threats posed by the hemlock woolly adelgid.
This year the group hopes to be able to give the park another $50,000 to continue this effort. You can help them reach that goal by contributing through a donation to the Friends of the Smokies at this site.
Story Categories:
A copy of National Parks Traveler's financial statements may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: National Parks Traveler, P.O. Box 980452, Park City, Utah 84098. National Parks Traveler was formed in the state of Utah for the purpose of informing and educating about national parks and protected areas.
Residents of the following states may obtain a copy of our financial and additional information as stated below:
- Florida: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER, (REGISTRATION NO. CH 51659), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING 800-435-7352 OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
- Georgia: A full and fair description of the programs and financial statement summary of National Parks Traveler is available upon request at the office and phone number indicated above.
- Maryland: Documents and information submitted under the Maryland Solicitations Act are also available, for the cost of postage and copies, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-974-5534).
- North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888-830-4989 or 919-807-2214. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
- Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of National Parks Traveler may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
- Virginia: Financial statements are available from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219.
- Washington: National Parks Traveler is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities, or on file at Charities Division, Office of the Secretary of State, State of Washington, Olympia, WA 98504.
INN Member
The easiest way to explore RV-friendly National Park campgrounds.
Here’s the definitive guide to National Park System campgrounds where RVers can park their rigs.
Our app is packed with RVing- specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 national parks.
You’ll also find stories about RVing in the parks, tips helpful if you’ve just recently become an RVer, and useful planning suggestions.
Comments
This is great news! It was tough seeing all the sick hemlocks in Cataloochee last spring. Thanks for the update.
Thank you so much for highlighting the successes of the treatment program in Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
The Southern Appalachians have been subjected to several devastating blights. The chestnut blight took out the majestic chestnut trees in the 1930s. The balsam wooly adelgid made matchsticks of the balsams - go up to Clingmans Dome and see the results. And now, the hemlock wooly adelgid. But we're fighting this one.
Danny Bernstein
www.hikertohiker.com
why not have the air force spray the trees with C-130 aircraft aerial sprayers?
NEW ORLEANS -- A U.S. Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules from the 910th Airlift Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, sprays Dibrom, a pesticide approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, over the city Sept. 13. The C-130 crew plans to spray the New Orleans area first, then other affected Gulf Coast areas as required. Crews will target are primarily mosquitoes and filth flies, which are capable of transmitting diseases such as Malaria, West Nile virus, and various types of Encephalitis. The C-130 is capable of spraying about 60,000 acres per day.