Facebook
X (Twitter)
Reddit
Pinterest
Tumblr
LinkedInNews
What's new?
May 2023
In the strangest winter since the start of our program. 109 root (whole tree failures)were reported in January and several more in late December 2022. This is just a fraction of similar failures state wide.
January 2023
Not much new. Covid prevented in person meetings but finally in January 2023 we were able to meet in person at last at Dominican University in San Rafael.
February 2019
PG&E has provided over 30,000 failure reports to us. In collaboration with the Western Chapter ISA we will sort and analyze the PG&E data and produce species failure profiles.
December 2018
We are changing the name of our program. It is now called the Western Tree Failure Database.
August 7, 2015
In recent days some news organizations who are interested in drought related issues have discovered this website. One of them has published an an erroneous interpretation of our data stating that it showed that there is an increase of failures due to the drought. There is no doubt that trees are affected by the drought, but so far, we have not received any reports directly attributing the failure to drought. See "CTFRP Statistics/ Counties and Numbers".
December 4, 2014
Registration for the 2015 Northern California Annual Meeting is now open. Go to www.wcisa.net and click on Events.
September 30, 2014
We've added the Monterey cypress failure profile which appeared in Western Arborist magazine Fall 2014. A presentation of all three recent profiles will be given by Larry Costello at "Understanding Trees in our Communities" at Stanford on Friday October 3rd. Go to www.wcisa.net for registration information.
September 18, 2014
"City of Pasadena Windstorm Tree Failure Analysis, July 2012" is the report produced by the city of Pasadena Department of Public Works and Davey Resource Group about the severe windstorm of November 30 and December 1, 2011. Find it under "STORIES" "Bleak December Wind in Pasadena"
January 29, 2014.
We've added the valley oak profile which appeared in Western Arborist, Winter 2013. See Species Profiles/Quercus lobata. Also, a new page which will contain Annual meeting speaker's presentations and handouts.
December, 2013. Registration for the 2014 annual meeting at FILOLI is open. See www.wcisa.net
April 5, 2013
We're on Facebook now. Visit us there at http://facebook.com/CTFRP.
December 4, 2012
Registration for the Northern California Annual Meeting is now open. Go to www.wcisa.net and click on EVENTS.
February 22, 2012
Good news! A CTFRP meeting for southern California is set for Thursday, April 5, 2012 at Descanso Gardens, La Canada-Flintridge. The agenda and registration information will be available soon at www.wcisa.net/events
December 20, 2011
The 2012 Annual Meeting is sold out. For questions about your registration call 866-785-8960 or e-mail registration@wcisa.net
December 1, 2011
On-line registration for the 2012 annual meeting is now available. First, DOWNLOAD "2012 Agenda and registration form" and then go to www.wcisa.net/events
November 17, 2011
Mark your calendars for the 2012 Annual Meeting. Thursday, January 12, 2011
Western Chapter ISA will be handling registrations, so bookmark http://www.wcisa.net Registration information will be up on the WCISA website soon. Get an early look at the agenda by going to the DOWNLOADS page and clicking on "CTFRP Annual meeting Agenda 2012"
April 27, 2011
Nomenclature change strikes fear in the heart of database manager!
In the draft edition of Jepson Manual II, the genus name of California native cypress has been changed from Cupressus to Hesperocyparis. Considering that we have over 400 entries for Monterey cypress, we will continue to use Cupressus, at least until Jepson II is in print! Stay tuned.
February, 2011
"Oaks in the Urban Landscape; Selection, Care and Preservation" L. Costello, B. Hagen and K. Jones is now available through the UC ANR catalog. http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu It's publication #3518. Chapter 8 is all about structural failures, defects and risk assessment.
January 4, 2011
The Annual Meeting Registration is full.
December 15, 2010
Starting today it's possible for viewers to rate some pages. At the bottom of some pages there are "helpful or not helpful" buttons to click on. On others there are five stars to choose from, five being the best rating. It's all an attempt to keep the website functioning as something helpful and interesting for you. Comments about the website are also welcome on the "Post a Question" page.
November 18, 2010
Registration information is ready for the 2011 CTFRP Annual Meeting. Go to the "Downloads" page for the registration form.
June 22, 2010
The free service for laboratory analysis of wood decay samples is coming to an end. In order to get your samples analyzed at no cost, you must submit them by July 31, 2010. See the news item below (June 1, 2009) for instructions.
May 24, 2010
As of today our newly redesigned web site is up and running! Check out the new pages; Species Profiles and CTFRP Statistics "50 or more" and "A Ten Year Look". Be the first to write a comment or ask a question on the new "Post a Question" page.
June 1, 2009
GOOD NEWS!
LABORATORY ANALYSES OF WOOD DECAY SAMPLES ----- FREE for CTFRP cooperators!
The Forest Pathology and Mycology Laboratory at UC Berkeley has developed a state of the art method that can detect and identify many important wood decay fungi. The lab is now accepting wood samples for analysis. Details are available at:
http://nature.berkeley.edu/garbelotto/english/woodrot.php
The following links can be found on the website:
• Shipping Wood Samples to UCB for Analysis
• Tree Sampling Protocol
• Sample Submission Form
This service is available to anyone, but there is a fee (up to $100 per sample). HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE A CONTRIBUTOR TO CTFRP (i.e., YOU HAVE SUBMITTED AT LEAST ONE REPORT) THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS SERVICE! We have been able to secure grant funds to defray the cost of the analysis. All you have to do is indicate on the submission form that you are a contributor (write CTFRP next to your name). Multiple samples can be submitted.
So, if you want to identify a wood decay fungus (either in a standing tree or in one that has failed), this is your opportunity. The test can identify the following genera: Armillaria, Ganoderma, Hericium, Inonotus/Phellinus, Laetiporus, Pleurotus, Schizophyllum, Stereum, Trametes (and more).
It is extremely important to follow the protocol for sampling and shipping. For failed trees, take care to sample from decayed wood at the break. Check the website for complete information on procedures.
Many thanks to Dr. Matteo Garbelotto, UCB, for making this analysis available for CTFRP contributors. Let us know if you have questions or comments.