Pathways and Risk Assessment of Emerald Ash Borer
Movement Into and Within the Western United States
December 18, 2007
In Cooperation with the
Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center
USDA Forest Service
3160 NE Third Street
Prineville, Oregon 97754
William R. Jacobi
Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
william.jacobi@colostate.edu
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Table of Contents:
1. Executive Summary:……………………………………………..…….3
2. Introduction and Background:…………………………………...…….5
3. Objectives of Report:………………………………………………..…7
Pathways:
a. Nursery stock
b. Natural tree connections between regions
c. Firewood
d. Logs and minimally processed wood
e. Pallets and packing materials
4. Risk Analysis:…………………………………………….………..….8
a. Nursery stock…………………………………............................8
b. Natural tree connections …………………………………….…11
c. Firewood…………………………………………….…...……..13
i. Commercial………………………………………..…14
ii. Campers……………………………………………....17
iii. Second homes…………………………………….…..20
d. Logs and minimally processed wood……………………….….22
e. Pallets and packing materials……………………………….….22
5. Value of ash resource in the western U.S.: .……………………....…23
6. Risk Reduction:………………………………………………………25
7. Data and Information Gaps:……………………………………….....26
8. Literature Cited:………………………………………………….…..27
9. Acknowledgements:…………………………………………….……28
10. Appendices:……………………………………………………… ….30
Table 1. New homes in western region in 2006
Table 2. Existing Single family homes in the West, 2005 American Community Survey, U.S. Census.
Table 3. Nursery stock insepected in 2006 in Colorado by stock type.
Table 4. Visitor and Camper Data from National Parks in Western U.S.
Table 5. Firewood Transportation by Campers Survey in Colorado Summer 2007.
Table 6. State source of firewood of camper firewood
Table 7. Example of camper survey of firewood use data sheet
Table 8. West wide retail firewood survey results: Spring/Summer 2007.
Table 9: Example of firewood survey form for Spring/Summer 2007
Table 10. Large retail outlets in Western U.S. that may sell firewood
Table 11. Estimated firewood volumes sold per year in western region.
Table 12. Pathways of exotic pest movement on wood material into and within Western United States.
Table 13. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Nursery Stock
Table 14. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Natural Tree Corridors
Table 15. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Commercial Firewood
Table 16. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Camper Firewood
Table 17. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Small local firewood dealers
Table 18. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Second home owners
Figure 1. Nursery stock movement example
Figure 2. Natural ash tree connections and potential movement of emerald ash borer
Figure 3: Fraxinus latifolia in Oregon
Figure 4. Map of Fraxinus velutina distribution
Figure 5. Map of Faxinus cuspidate distribution
Figure 6. Map of Faxinus anomala distribution
Figure 7. Map of new house data in 2006
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1. Executive Summary:
Exotic insects and pathogens of woody plants continue to be introduced into North America due
to improperly treated plant material and wood packing materials. Increased trade with new
countries on continents with host trees similar to those found in North America increases the risk
of importation of lethal organisms such at the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and the
sudden oak death pathogen (Phytophthora ramorum).
This study was an analysis of the status of pathway management into and within the Western
United States and what information is needed to fully mitigate and restrict emerald ash borer
movement into and within the region. The western region was defined as including the states of
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North
Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,Washington, and Wyoming.
The specific objectives of this analysis were to: 1)Determine what pathways could move the
emerald ash borer into or within the Western United States including the states of Arizona,
Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, California, Oregon, and Washington; 2) Determine what information is
available and needed to determine the relative risk of each pathway; 3)Determine how pathways
could be modified to reduce emerald ash borer movement; 4) Determine what information is
available and needed to provide impact metrics that can be used for comparing risks.
Pathways that might allow exotic insects and pathogens to move into and within the Western
United States include nursery stock movement, natural tree connections, firewood, logs and
minimally processed wood such as pallets, packing materials and biofuels.
Observations:
Nursery stock:
 The total per year use of woody nursery stock moving into or within the west are
estimated at 7.6- 9.8 million trees and 28.2-36.6 million shrubs.
 The large number of nursery stock moving in the west makes this one of the highest risk
pathways to move exotic insects and pathogens
 Nursery stock can move exotic pests directly to populations of susceptible plants.
Natural Connections:
 The estimated time for emerald ash borer movement through the riparian/natural stands
and wind breaks at an average of 3-10 miles per year would be 50-150 years to travel the
470 miles from Chicago to Omaha NE and another 50-180 years to travel the 540 miles
to the Front Range Communities of Colorado.
 Without human help the natural pathway movement to the west is a low risk since the
insect can be slowed or stopped when it reaches less dense ash stands in the middle of the
Great Plain states of Kansas, Nebraska, North and South Dakota.
 Movement within the west will be limited by the lack of contiguous hosts except in major
metropolitan areas such as the Front Ranges of Colorado and Utah and the west coast
where there are native ash and large urban populations of ash.
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
A GIS based analysis of the distribution of natural ash, wind break and urban ash and
other species along these pathways would be of use in future management actions and
allocation of resources.
Commercial Firewood:
 Sixty percent of sampled firewood in a west wide survey of retail sales of firewood
bundles was from the state the sample was taken leaving 40% of the firewood from
companies with home offices out of state or country.
 Commercial retail firewood can be a high risk pathway unless the wood is at least 4 years
old or kiln dried. Old wood does not prevent exotic pathogens from moving on the
firewood since fruiting bodies can remain viable for three or more years.
Camper Movement of Firewood:
 Based on a survey by the author of campers at two National Parks in Colorado, 9 % of
the campers brought wood from out of state. A Michagan study indicated approximately
the same ration, so based on these two studies a rough estimate of campers bringing
firewood from over 200 miles or another state would be 8%.
 An estimated of the 10.4 million campers in just National Parks, 3.2 million campers
from the east come to National Parks in the West and 8% of them bring wood from home
or another state which would be 256,000 opportunities to introduce exotic insects and
fungi per year just for the people visiting national parks.
 The regions with the biggest draw for National Park campers are the; interior west (4.1
million campers); west coast states (3.6 million); Rocky Mountain states (2.5 million
campers) and the Great plain states are the lowest (0.6 million campers) Appendix Table
3. The Great Plain states do not have a huge draw for campers as the remaining Western
states, but many campers pass through the Great Plains on their way to western states.
The plains states are at risk because of the number of campers traveling through the
region.
 Camper movement of firewood is a high risk pathway especially if the campers come
from infested areas. Since insect and pathogen exotics can move on firewood the
transportation of firewood across state lines should be regulated.
Second Home Owner Movement of Firewood
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Second homeowner movement of exotics is probably a low risk pathway but there needs
to be a survey of homeowners to see if firewood is moved and education program to stop
the movement of firewood.
There are over 1.5 million second homes in the western states and the owners may come
from an infested area
A survey done by a regional government group of four counties and the City of
Steamboat Springs in CO found of 64,000 homes, 55% of the homes or 35,000 were
second homes. Sixty five percent of the owners of these second homes were not local
residents from Colorado. Fifty five percent of the owners reside east of the Mississippi
river leaving 13% from west of the Mississippi. The most common time for these people
to use their homes was between November and March during the ski season
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Second home owners may bring firewood from home but the numbers are probably
limited.
Second home owners may provide pathways for exotics on firewood and the likely hood
might increase as the cost of energy increases and the owners want to bring their own
fuel.
Logs, Pallets and Biofuels:
 Logs, pallets and biofuels as pathways for exotics are logically high risk pathways and
should be regulated in the future.
 Unfortunately this study did not address the volumes and directions of movement of these
wood products.
 Collecting data on the volume and directional movement of logs, pallets and biofuels is
needed to assess the risk and develop management and education programs
Impact on Ash in the West:
 EAB will cause a significant mortality to ash in urban forests and wind breaks of the
Great Plains states.
 The impact will be devastating in urban forests that have a high percentage of ash such as
in the Great Plains states.
 Good estimates of tree numbers in urban forests are needed for future management.
 Currently there are only a few surveys that estimate the ash component in urban forests.
Mitigation and Data Needs:
 Mitigation activities for professional tree managers and government entities are provided
and along with needed data and information to improve the mitigation of emerald ash
borer transport and impact.
 Education and restrictions of movement of potentially infested living and dead plant
materials is needed in the Western United States now. The public is aware of the emerald
ash borer in the Midwest but there is limited restrictions and concerns visible in the west.
 Noninfested states and federal agencies need to have a coordinated grass roots education
programs.
 State and Federal park agencies can restrict the sale or use of potentially infested
materials such as firewood and nursery stock in their parks and cause defacto pathway
restricksons that Federal and State Regulatory agencies are unable carry out. We have
weed-free hay restrictions on national and state lands so why not with tree pathogens and
insects?
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2. Introduction and Background:
Emerald ash borer:
The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an exotic wood boring insect that is native to
China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia and the far east of Russia. The insect was introduced most likely
on wood packing material to the Detroit, MI area in the early 1990’s. The insect had been killing
trees in Detroit area by 1992 but was not noticed till 2002. The insect has since spread by nursery
stock, logs, firewood and naturally to Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Ontario Canada and has been
found surviving in ½ inch diameter stem/branch wood (Federal Register 2007).
Adults emerge mid May with peak emergence from late June to early July (Poland and
McCullough 2006). Adults feed on ash foliage before mating and females lay 50-90 eggs in bark
crevices. Larva feed in phloem and cambium through the summer into the fall causing a girdling
of the tree. The insect colonizes the upper branches and stems first so it is hard to detect the
insect or damage at low incidences. So far girdled ash trees remain relatively inadequate as a
monitoring device but are still the best way to attract adults. The adults apparently can fly from
0.6 miles per year to a maximum of 3-4 miles per year (Poland and McCullough 2006).
Damage:
Over 15 million ash trees have been killed by this insect borer. In just eight cities where the
insect could potentially move–Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, New York, Oakland,
Syracuse and Philadelphia over the 14 % of the trees are ash and are valued at 565 million
(Federal Register 2003) The cost of ash removals in the US is estimated at 20-60 billion dollars
(Federal Register 2003). A survey and analysis of EAB impact on urban ash in just Ohio
indicates a total cost of lost value, tree removal costs, and replant costs to be $2-7.6 billion. The
costs translate to $157,000-665,000 per 1,000 residents of Ohio. These costs will be handled
primarily by the private home owner and municipalities since there is limited state or federal aid
for this and other exotic problems. Unless we change the impact payment structure of exotics,
international trade is not going to bear any of the brunt of the financial and ecological impacts.
Biocontrol potential:
Two Hymenoptera insects were found parasitizing the emerald ash borer in its native range in
China. These two insects parasitized both eggs and larva. These insects may be tested as
biocontrol agents in North America (Liu et al 2007) but the spread rate of the borer is going to
make biocontrol difficult to implement.
Firewood as pathway of insects and pathogens:
Modeling efforts by BenDor et al (2006) and Muirhead et al (2006) implicate the overwhelming
importance of human caused movement of EAB to distant areas over the natural movement of
the beetle. Normal insect flight accounted for most of the newly infested areas in MI but
outlying infestations had to occur through human intervention. Adult female movement is
usually 0.8 km per day with a maximum of 4 km so long distance movement is by contaminated
nursery plants, firewood or logs. Muirhead et al (2006) found population data to predict human
activity at the source and recipient area and distance between them explained most of the
movement of the insect to new areas. They also found firewood bundles were brought from
quarantined areas at a rate related to the number of campsites. In their analysis of the
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infestations in MI, OH, and IN they found infestations at least 200-250 km from the nearest
infestation.
Michigan’s Dept of Natural Resources found that out of 8,096 campers who brought firewood,
20% brought wood from the quarantined area and 1% had signs of EAB in the firewood
(www.jsonline.com- Are we barking up the wrong tree?)
A reminiscent relationship between firewood and a disease or insect is the exotic bark beetle that
vectors the exotic disease pathogen of Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi). All elm
firewood was, and still probably is, banned in communities trying to maintain elms in their urban
forests since it acted as a vector and breeding location for the beetle that vectors the pathogen.
Elm firewood was not necessarily thought of as a long distance pathway but more of a shortdistance pathway within or into a nearby city. There is a new exotic bark beetle that may be a
new vector of this “old disease” (Jacobi et al. 2006, Negron et al. 2005) that is renewing the
interest in restricting firewood movement.
The other recent exotic disease sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum) pathogen’s spores
remained viable on firewood during a 19 month drying period for up to 5 months. The initial
infestation rate of the firewood was low to begin with at 10-20% of the samples positive.
Firewood consumption:
Determining residential firewood use is difficult since users may use very different volume
measures of wood from pickup truck sales to actual cords (Marsinko et al 1984). Firewood
collecting and cutting on National Forest land is common in most western states and is
dominated by homeowners wanting to save money. However, the distances they have to haul the
wood actually make the wood not such an economic benefit (Force 1985). Firewood
consumption for home heating is variable around the country and varies by other fuel costs, air
pollution regulations and availability and the population density (Lippert and Dungan 1983,
Lynch and Mackes 2001). In Colorado in 1999, 22,000 cords of firewood were cut from public
and private lands and small bundle sales were estimated at 8,000 cords per year for at total of
30,000 cords of firewood used in CO. The bundled firewood sources were 60% from local
sources and the rest from out of state.
Duration EAB remains in firewood:
Infested logs were treated with plastic tarps, splitting wood, and by storing in shade or sun.
Emergence, survival and insect size were reduced in logs cut in early larval development times
(July and August) and splitting and storing them in sun or shade reduced adult emergence
(Petrice and Haack 2006). No treatment was 100 % effective in preventing adult emergence.
Previous work with the exotic bark beetle Scolytus multistriatus, the vector of the Dutch elm
disease pathogen, indicated elm wood was not suitable for beetle infestation after 7 months of
storage under thick clear (6mil) plastic tarps. Beetles however, could emerge under the plastic if
logs were already infested (Krawczk, et al 1982, Svihra 1987).
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Potential Exotic organisms:
Insects and pathogens that have been or could be transported via minimally processed wood
include the following type examples:
1. Tree Insects
 Bark beetles: banded elm bark beetle (Scolytus schevyrewi)
 Wood boring insects: emerald ash borer, Asian long horned borer (Anoplophora
glabripennis), Sirex wood wasp (Sirex noctilio)
 Defoliators: Asian and European gypsy moths (Lymantria dispar ), hemlock adelgid
 Stressors: scale insects,
2. Tree pathogens
 Canker fungi: Ramorum blight-Phytophthora ramorum, Chestnut blightCryphonectria parasitica
 Vascular wilt fungi: Dutch elm disease pathogen-Ophiostoma ulmi
 Stain fungi: Blue stain complex related to bark beetles
 Decay fungi: Any fungus that can withstand the moisture content of the wood in
transit.
3. Objectives of Study
The over arching goal of this study was to determine if minimally processed wood products
including firewood are a credible risk for moving exotic tree insects and pathogens.
Specific objectives:
1. Determine what pathways could move the emerald ash borer into or within the Western
United States including the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming,
California, Oregon, and Washington.
2. Determine what information is available and needed to determine the relative risk of each
pathway.
3. Determine how pathways could be modified to reduce emerald ash borer movement.
4. Determine what information is available and needed to provide impact metrics that can
be used for comparing risks.
Pathways of interest:
1. Nursery stock
2. Natural tree connections
3. Firewood
a. Commercial
i. Local-within state
ii. Interstate transport
b. Private individuals
i. Campers
ii. Second homeowners
4. Logs and minimally processed wood
5. Pallets and packing materials
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6. Biofuels
9
4. Risk Analysis:
A. Nursery Stock:
Assumptions:
 Nursery stock is a likely avenue of exotic insect or pathogen movement to and within the
west. For example the one time spring shipment of Phytophthoroa ramorum out of CA
on ornamental plants from one nursery transported this pathogen to many states
throughout North America
 Nursery stock can move soil pathogens and insects, foliar and stem insects and fungi.
 A fraction of nursery stock is inspected at origin and at reception locations by State
Departments of Agriculture. There are so many plants being moved that it is up to the
shipping and receiving companies to look for issues.
 Nursery stock is produced within each western state but for states like CO and AZ most
stock is produced other states.
 The human population in the west is increasing with movement within the region but also
major migrations from outside the region.
 New homes, city/green areas, commercial development all require woody plant material
for landscaping.
 Existing homes require landscape change and maintenance that require new woody
plants.
 The number of woody trees and shrubs required by new homes varies from 0 to 100’s
depending on city codes, homeowner preferences and economic capabilities.
 The number of woody plants needed for new construction is estimated at a very
conservative 3 trees and 20 shrubs and 2 trees and 2 shrubs for city/green areas and for
commercial and apartment areas 4 trees and 2 shrubs for at total of 9 trees and 19 shrubs.
Shrubs probably should be 20-30 for most high end home construction in the west. The
number of woody plants needed per year for existing construction is estimated at 0.1 tree
and 1 shrub per home and 0.1 trees and 0.1 shrub for city/green areas and 0.01 trees and
0.1 shrubs for commercial areas for at total of 0.21 trees and 1.2 shrubs.
 Nursery stock will move exotic pests directly to populations of susceptible plants
 We do not know where all the nursery stock originates so it is hard to make a risk
assessment about a particular exotic pest.
 Risk of pest introduction is high for direct shipped nursery stock and stock at big box
stores since there are fewer professional nursery people looking at stock.
 Risk is lower in states that produce their own nursery stock but those states may be at
greater risk for new pest introductions since they also import plant material from outside
North America that may have exotics present on them.
Methods:
To determine the relative number of nursery stock potentially moving within or from outside
states we utilized an average number of woody shrubs and trees needed for new construction and
existing homes. We then determined the number of new homes and existing homes in each state.
10
We then added a number of trees and shrubs to the per new or exiting home plant count to
account for municipal and commercial landscapes.
The number of new homes per year based on US Census data for 2006 is 476,591 with 89%
detached and 11% of these attached for the west (Appendix Table 1). The number of existing
homes in the west based on US Census- American Community Survey for 2005 data is
15,979,672 (Appendix Table 2).
West wide estimation of nursery stock movement:
The US Census data base, Table Q10. “New privately owned housing units completed in the
west by purpose and design” was used to obtain the average number of new homes completed
(476,591) for 2006 for the western region. The number of existing single family homes based on
the 2005 American Community Survey, of the US Census from StateQuick Fact data was
15,979,672 for the states in our study area (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, California,
Oregon, Washington). Taking these data and multiplying the number of houses times the tree
and shrub ratios of 9.0 trees and 19 shrubs for new contruction and 0.21 trees and 1.2 shrubs per
existing homes we have 476,591 X 9 trees and 476,591 X 19 shrubs for a total of 4,289,319 trees
and 9,055,229 shrubs. For existing homes, we have 15,979,672 X 0.21 trees and 1.2 shrubs or
3,355,731 trees and 19,175,606 shrubs. Thus the estimated total per year use of woody nursery
stock moving into or within the west is 7,645,050 trees (7.6 million) and 28,230,835 (28.2
million) shrubs.
Colorado Estimation:
Existing homes: 903,259 units X 0.21 trees and X 1.2 shrubs: Trees= 189,684 Shrubs=
1,083,910 shrubs.
New construction: 38,343 new units per year X 9 trees and 19 shrubs: Trees = 345,087 and
Shrubs=728,517
Estimates based on housing units: Trees: 534,771 Shrubs: 1,812,427
Estimates based on retail sales: Trees 690,000 Shrubs: 2,300,000
Colorado estimation by retail sales:
 Nursery stock is produced in a few nurseries in Colorado. However, most woody plant
stock comes from outside of Colorado. The stock comes from over 30 states and Canada
and is a complex and massive situation (Appendix Figure 1). Direct shipment of
brokered trees may come from a large number of other states such as TN, MI, IA and
other locations. Actually numbers of imported nursery stock are not available even
though nursery stock is regulated by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
 The cities along the Front Range of Colorado are where a lot of importation occurs in the
west since these cities are rapidly expanding. One relatively small wholesale nursery
brings in 1,000 balled and burlapped trees and 6,000 tree liners, 120,000 shrubs to line
out and over 30,000 shrubs to pass on to customers per year for a total of 157,000 plants
per year. A professional wholesaler’s estimate for the total number of plants planted each
year on the Front Range was 600,000 balled and burlapped trees and 2,000,000 shrubs.
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Adding another 15 percent for the remainder of the state one comes up with 690,000 trees
and 2,300,000 shrubs.
I think think our estimates of trees and shrubs to be very conservative since the retail
estimates are 23% greater than the new and existing construction estimations. If we use
the retail estimation the total tree movement in the west would be 9.8 million trees and
36.6 million shrubs
The number of trees and shrubs inspected by the Colorado Dept of Ag were
approximately 622,000 in 2006 (Appendix Table 3).
Other Western States:
 We did not find a ready source of information on estimates of nursery stock sales from
other states. We need to continue to gather this data.
Results and Conclusions:
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The total per year use of woody nursery stock moving into or within the west are
estimated at 7.6- 9.8 million trees and 28.2-36.6 million shrubs.
The large number of nursery stock moving in the west makes this one of the highest risk
pathways to move exotic insects and pathogens
Nursery stock can move exotic pests directly to populations of susceptible plants.
We do not know volumes or where all the nursery stock originates so it is hard to make a
risk assessment about a particular exotic pest.
Risk of pest introduction is high for direct shipped nursery stock and stock at big box
stores since there are fewer professional nursery people looking at stock.
Risk is less for within continent exotic introductions in states that produce their own
nursery stock but those states may be at greater risk for new pest introductions from
outside the continent since they also import plant material from outside North America
that may have exotics present on them.
The percent of nursery stock with observable pests present are data that could be obtained
from the State Dept of Agric in the western U.S.
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B. Natural Tree Connections:
Assumptions:
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The Rocky Mountains and intervening deserts will keep the natural movement of
EAB from occurring from north to south and east and west within the west.
EAB from eastern hardwood forests may move west to the Great Plain states and
Front Range states.
Adult insect movement is for six weeks in summer and may travel 1400 m that
year. (Bauer et al 2003
The leading edge of the mortality in MI is expanding at about 10 miles per year
(Personal communication-D Smitley, Michagan State University)
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The rate of insect movement in the mid west is 0.6-3miles per year (Poland and
McCullough 2006).
An estimate that errors on the side of rapid insect movment for a rate of
expanision of infestation based on the existing information would 3-10 miles per
year
Movement through Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado:
 Based on surveys of state forest professionals in Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado there are
relatively continuous hardwood trees including cottonwood, elm, ash between the Front
Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and the Midwest.
 Since the emerald ash borer seems to be able to fly at least 2 miles between hosts,
movement through this corridor is possible. Thus, EAB will be able to move along the
Platt River corridor and its tributaries to the Front Range of Colorado.
 There is probably limited ability in western Nebraska and eastern Colorado for the insect
to move north or south of the Platt River corridor since ash wind breaks are not common.
Movement into North and South Dakota:
 Movement of EAB into these two states from the east should be relatively via natural and
planted ash in Minnesota and Iowa to the east.
 Once in eastern North Dakota there are many ash windbreaks within ½ mile of each other
and north south flowing rivers with ash growing along those rivers.
 In the western half of North Dakota there is not enough ash within 3 miles of each other
for the insect to move to new urban or the few wind breaks.
 In southwest North Dakota, ash grows in wooded draws but the distance between wooded
draws is not known so EAB movement in this area is at a low risk.
 The above relative risk conclusions would also apply to South Dakota.
Movement through Kansas to Colorado:
 EAB should be able to spread fairly easily through the native ash, ash in urban forests
and wind breaks that occur commonly in the eastern one third of Kansas.
 In the western two thirds of Kansas and eastern prairie area of Colorado, communities,
wind breaks and natural ash stands are not common.
 Thus, humans would be the vectors in that area and infestations could be kept from
spreading with an active management and education program.
13
North and South Movement within the Western Region:
 Native ash occur in riparian areas of southern CO, NM, AZ, UT, and NV but the
distances between the riparian areas is potentially greater than 5 miles so natural
movement by the insect is not likely.
 In coastal WA, OR and Northern CA, native ash and urban plantings may allow north
and south movement of EAB.
Results and Conclusions:
 The estimate of time for movement through the riparian/natural stands and wind breaks at
an average of 3-10 miles per year would be 50-150 years to get the 470 miles from
Chicago to Omaha NE and another 50-180 years to travel the 540 miles to the Front
Range Communities of Colorado (Appendix Figure 2)
 Without human help the natural pathway movement to the west is a low risk since the
insect can be slowed or stopped when it reaches less dense ash stands in the middle of the
prairie states.
 Humans can bring the insect to forests along east and west Interstates highways on
firewood or other materials so the exotics will be able to move faster.
 Movement within the west will be limited by lack of contiguous hosts except in major
metropolitan areas such as the Front Ranges of Colorado and Utah and the west coast
where there are native ash and large urban populations of ash.
 A GIS based analysis of the distribution of natural ash, wind break and urban ash and
other species along these pathways would be of use in future management actions and
allocation of resources.
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C. Firewood:
Assumptions on firewood:
Sources:
1. Firewood can be purchased at retail outlets in small bundles- (commercial)
2. Firewood can be brought from home by tent or RVcampers, horse campers, NASCAR
fans- (from home source or commercial source)
3. Firewood for home heating (homeowner or commercial bulk delivery)
4. Second home owners can move firewood from primary residence to second home
(homeowner and commercial firewood)
Probability of infestation:
 Firewood can harbor bark beetles if the bark is attached
 Firewood can harbor wood borers for three years with bark on or off
 Firewood can harbor decay, canker or vascular stain/ wilt fungi with bark on or off (
 The duration firewood can harbor insects and fungi are not well researched and most
information is based on expert opinions.
 Firewood can be made insect or pathogen free through bark removal and then fumigation
or air drying for three years under cover, or kiln drying wood .
 Firewood can provide movement of exotics as it is being transported and while it resides
in campground. Presence of host material must be present within 2-4 km.
 If firewood is used within a few days of purchase or movement, the risk of exotic
transport is lessened but the zero tolerance required to keep exotics from being
introduced makes rapid use of firewood a poor method of management.
 Most recommendations on firewood are based on insect development timing rather than
general recommendations based on both fungal and insect contamination. Fungi can
release spores during fall and spring.
Firewood supplies:
 Commercial companies supply grocery stores, convenience stores/gas stations, and big
box stores with prewrapped bundles of firewood.
 Commercial firewood maybe produced and shipped within states, shipped across state
lines or the US border from Mexico or Canada
 Commercial firewood companies buy directly from out of state dealers or go to those
states and purchase wood.
 There is limited information on the amount or source of commercial firewood.
 There are some large dealers in firewood that have over 5 processing facilities in various
states and Canada.
 State Departments of Agriculture do not monitor, license or have had much to do with
firewood in the past.
 State Departments of Agriculture manage weights and measures so they could certify
sources and volumes sold within the state.
15
Methods of Firewood Risk Analysis:
1. A phone survey of retail outlets in Colorado provided information on the type of retail
outlets carrying firewood.
2. A collection of firewood and assessment of insect and fungal contaminates in firewood is
ongoing in Colorado funded by CAPS.
3. A west wide direct observation survey of firewood at retail outlets was conducted by
volunteers organized by the PI in April -July, 2007. This survey will be repeated in the
winter of 2007-2008.
4. Camper numbers and their likelihood to carry firewood was determined via National Park
Service visitation numbers.
5. A field survey of campers at Federal Forest Service and National Parks in Colorado was
carried out in July, 2007. This camper survey will be repeated and expanded in Colorado
with CAPS funding in 2008.
6. A phone survey of commercial firewood companies was not able to determine the extent
of firewood movement across state lines. This needs to be carried out in future studies to
get a handle of firewood sales.
7. A phone survey of individual stores as to the amount of firewood they sell in a year will
be carried out in 2008 to refine estimates of firewood sales.
8. A phone survey of big box store corporate buyers did not provide any information about
amount and where firewood is moving. Regional and individual stores decide if there
will be firewood offered so there is not an easy model to use to determine the amount and
movement of firewood sold by retail outlets.
Commercial Firewood:
Results of Phone Survey of Colorado Retail Outlets:
A phone survey of retail outlets in Colorado has given some indication that firewood availability
varies by region in the state. In the Great Plains (eastern) area of Colorado 21 businesses were
contacted in five towns. Ten retail outlets were gas station/convenience store, three were farm
and ranch and none of them carried firewood and of eight grocery stores, two carried firewood.
Both grocery stores that carried firewood were Safeway stores. In the western slope towns of
Colorado 40 businesses were contacted in four towns. Twenty outlets surveyed were gas
station/convenience stores, eight out of nine were grocery stores carried wood (six carry year
round and two seasonally, seven were big box stores that 6/7 stores carried firewood in the fall
and winter, and one out of three hardware, farm and ranch stores carried firewood seasonally.
Along the front range of Colorado we surveyed by phone (17) and direct contact (18) retail
outlets. Eighteen outlets were convenience stores –nine carried firewood, all 15 grocery stores
carried firewood, one big box store and one farm and ranch store. Although not recorded here,
most big box stores contacted said they carried wood seasonally. In Fort Collins two big box
stores carried hardwood from PA and CA.
Table One. Survey of 114 retail outlets carrying firewood in Colorado
Colorado Region
Do not sell firewood
Sell all year
Eastern
90%
10%
Western Slope
42%
26%
Front Range
33%
59%
16
Sell winter only
0%
33%
8%
Results of random firewood collection in Colorado:
A visual survey of firewood status (wood supplier and contact information, wood species
identification, insect symptoms, fungal fruiting body presence, etc.) was conducted at randomly
selected stores prior to visiting the city. Firewood was collected for insect rearing and fungal
isolations. The majority of firewood visibly assessed was purchased for insect rearing. As of
December 1, 2007, we visibly surveyed and/or collected 42 bundles of firewood throughout
Colorado. Forty-five percent of the wood assessed came from companies whose headquarters
were out of state (California, Texas, Kansas and British Columbia, Canada). Seventy-one
percent of the wood was conifer, 24% was hardwood only and 5% of the bundles contained both
conifer and hardwood species. We will identify firewood down to genus and/or species.
Species identified as of December 1, 2007:
 Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta)
 Ponderosa pine (P. ponderosa)
 Elm (Ulmus spp.)
 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
 True fir (Abies spp.)
 Oak (Quercus spp.)
 Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
 Cottonwood (Populus spp.)
 Western redcedar (Thuja plicata)
Insect and Fungal Evidence of Firewood
Firewood from Colorado was assessed for wood species, fungal, and insect contaminants. Sixtyfour percent of firewood had evidence of Ascomycete or Basidiomycete fruiting bodies or had
evidence of blue-stain fungi. To determine if firewood can harbor viable fungi, isolations from a
subsample of firewood bundles will be conducted this winter.. If there are signs or symptoms of
fungi not normally found locally on that host, isolations will be carried out to identify species.
Fifty nine percent of collected firewood had evidence of insects. Wood bundles have been placed
in rearing cages and checked bi-weekly for emergence of any insects. Insects collected are in the
process of preservation and identification, and will be identified to genus by CSU unless there
are suspected exotics and then they will be passed on to APHIS.
Insects collected and identified as of December 1, 2007:

Dendroctonus ponderosae

Ips spp.

Scolytus schevyrewi

Other Scolytus spp.

Coleoptera: Buprestidae (no EAB)

Coleoptera: Miridae

Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae
17
Results of Westwide Firewood Retail survey:
One hundred and thirty six bundles were observed in over 30 towns in 11 states. Sixty percent of
sampled firewood was from the state the sample was taken leaving 40% of the firewood from
companies with home offices out of state or country. Thirty six percent of the firewood was
hardwood, 52 % conifer and 11% both hardwood and conifer. Most of the wood that was
reported was found at convenience and grocery stores. Sixty percent of the wood had evidence
of past or current insects and 57% had evidence of past or current fungal infections (Appendix
Table 8 & 9).
Conclusions on Commercial firewood:








Sixty percent of sampled firewood in a west wide survey of retail sales of firewood
bundles was from the state the sample was taken leaving 40% of the firewood from
companies with home offices out of state or country.
Big box and grocery chains seem to buy from large suppliers that provide many of their
stores in a region with the same wood.
One large western supplier of firewood provides wood in over 900 cities in 47 states.
Safeway, Albertsons, Kroger, Thriftway, Wynco, Rays etc are major suppliers of
packaged firewood. For example Kroger owns eight grocery chains in the western region
and five convenience store chains.
How many grocery stores are in the western region is based on a ratio of stores to
population analysis in Fort Collins and Greeley, Colorado and Bend and Eugene in
Oregon that ranged from 1/8,000 to 1/ 11,000 with an average of 1/9,925 so we used
1/10,000. Convenience stores were variable per capita with Fort Collins and Greeley CO
at 1 per 1,838 and 2,571 and in Bend and Eugene OR at one convenience store per 1,268
and 3,108 for an average of 2,196. The store numbers were based on numbers provided
by Goggle Map. The results were an estimated 7,308 grocery stores and 36,943
convience stores in the western region (Appendix Table 10).
We determined the number of Walmart, Walmart Super Centers, Home Depots, and
Lowes stores by collecting location data from company web sites for a estimated total of
1,351 in the western region, (Appendix Table 10).
How much firewood is sold at retail outlets? We estimate convenience stores will have
on average 8 X 3’ X 1.5 ft area of wood (0.3 cord) on hand an will replace that twice for
a total of one cord per year, grocery stores will sell 2 cords per year and big box stores
will use 4 cords. These estimates are based on observations at three Colorado outlets
(Appendix Table 11). A phone survey of retail stores this winter will further refine these
estimates.
The total volume of retail firewood moving into each western state from out of state is
estimated at 9,342 cords of firewood (Appendix Table 11).
Issues Complicating the Commerical Firewood Risk Analysis:
18








Most firewood is stored outside of the retail outlet so any insect or pathogen can escape.
Some outlets have the wood inside so that wood posses a lesser threat of delivering exotic
pests.
Where wood is actually coming from is difficult to determine since the bundles only list
the company home address.
Big box stores in many states carry firewood during the winter season. Much of the
firewood is from out of state. This winter wood will keep insects and fungi alive longer
than summer wood since it will be cooler and closer to when insects moved into wood.
Convenience stores that are large part of a large chain also buy and supply the same wood
for many locations with in a state and region. For example Seven/Eleven in Colorado
uses one to two suppliers.
The wholesale dealers that provide move many cords across state lines and provide the
large retail chains with firewood are very much on top of the issues of moving firewood.
I suspect these companies are willing to work toward better management.
The small dealers that go 500 miles away to get wood could be a greater threat since they
might be willing to take risks.
Local firewood retailers sell and deliver firewood to local clients. Many of these dealers
import wood from other parts of the nation. For example, several dealers in Colorado
offer oak and related hardwoods from states to the east including Missouri. For example
hardwoods from the east and south are sold by over 50% of 20 firewood dealers
randomly assessed in Front Range Colorado.
State Departments of Ag might be able to get firewood to have labeling of origin or how
long it has been dried since they certify volume of the product.
Campers and Recreational Firewood Movement:
Results:
 A survey in Michigan state parks found that 28% of the campers bring firewood from
home and fifty five percent of these campers were 100 miles from home and 25% were
200 miles from home.
 Based on a survey by the author of campers at two National Parks in CO, 9 % of the
campers brought wood from out of state. So based on these two studies a rough estimate
of campers bringing firewood from over 200 miles or another state would be 8%.
 The number of National Park visitors that camp (Appendix Table 4) is hard to put a firm
number on but there are 10.4 million people staying over night in national parks across
the western U.S.. How many are campers from outside the state where the park is located
in Western U.S.? Based on estimate in Table 3 it appears that 3.2 million visitors stay
overnight and are from the east. It is assumed that most of these people camp.
Colorado Campground Surveys
The objective of the campground surveys was to quantify the number of campers visiting
Colorado USFS and National Parks, including Rocky Mountain National Park and Great Sand
Dunes National Monument and Preserve, who are bringing firewood from outside of Colorado.
This survey is part of our statewide education and research project on reducing the risk of
importation of invasive tree insects and disease pathogens to the Rocky Mountain Region. This
19
survey will help us determine the risk of invasive species importation via visitors and help us
direct our education and management actions.
Colorado parks and campgrounds visited in summer/fall 2007 included two at Rocky Mountain
National Park ,Glacier Basin CG (7/27/07), Morraine Park CG (7/24/07) and one at Great Sand
Dunes National Park and Presercve ,Pinyon Flats CG (7/20/07) and four on the Roosevelt
National Forest (Dowdy Lakes CG (7/5/07), Bel-Aire Lakes CG (7/5/07), Mountain Park CG
(7/5/07), and West Lake CG (7/5/07).
Out of 484 campsites visited….
 364 campsites were occupied (collected license plate state information)
 167 occupied campsites were currently empty (vehicles or tents only)
 197 campsites with people were surveyed
 21% of campers had no firewood and did not plan to get any
 79% of campers had firewood with them when we surveyed them
 Of campers with firewood, 91% of firewood was obtained in-state (Colorado)
Table 2. Source State of Firewood (from campers who had firewood with them).
State Source of Wood
Frequency
Percent
Arizona
Colorado
Kansas
Louisiana
Missouri
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Texas
Utah
Wyoming
2
141
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
1.3
91.0
1.3
0.7
1.3
1.3
0.7
1.3
0.7
0.7
Table 3. Sources of Colorado firewood (from campers with Colorado firewood)
Source of Wood
Frequency
Percent
Unknown
10
7.1
2 x 4’s
4
2.8
Home/cut (yards, cabinets, etc.)
23
16.2
Colorado based firewood dealers (Shretner 27
19.2
and
Sons
Logging/JCK
Corporation)
Local Vendor (at campground)
69
48.9
Table 4. Sources of out-of-state firewood (from campers with out-of-state firewood)
Wood source
Frequency
Percent
Unknown
5
35.7
Building material
1
4.1
Cut themselves/backyard
8
57.1
20
Results and Conclusions:

There are an estimated 3.2 million campers coming to just National Parks in the West and
8% of them bring wood from home or another state. Based on this information there
could be 256,000 opportunities to introduce exotic insects and fungi per year just for the
people visiting national parks.

The regions with the biggest draw for campers visiting National Parks are the; interior
west (4.1 million campers); west coast states (3.6 million); Rocky Mountain states (2.5
million campers) and the Great plain states are the lowest (0.6 million campers)
Appendix Table 4. The Great Plain states do not have a huge draw for campers but many
campers pass through the Great Plains on their way to western states. The plains states
are at risk because of the number of campers traveling through the region.

Hunters coming from other states to western states may bring firewood with them. The
exact number that would bring wood is not known. A survey of hunters via some type of
web based questionnaire when licenses are being purchased from state Departments of
Wildlife would be the best way to educate and determine the risk. The number of out of
state hunters from each state could be determined by contacting each state wildlife
department and obtaining numbers of out of state tags and fishing licenses.
21
Pathway Analysis of Firewood use in Second Homes in Western United States.
Assumptions:
 Second homes are common in mountain, river and lakeside communities
 Second home owners are likely to bring firewood from home if they have free wood or
hardwood firewood at or near their primary home.
 If the home is within one or two day drive the homeowner may bring firewood.
 One to two percent of the second homeowners will bring wood since food, kids, dogs and
other materials would fill up the vehicle. The estimate of 2% needs to be verified by
some type of phone survey.
Methods:
Survey Data:
A survey done by a regional government group of four counties and the City of Steamboat
Springs in CO found of 64,000 homes, 55% of the homes or 35,000 were second homes
(Northwest Colorado Council of Governments. 2006). Sixty five percent of the owners of these
second homes were not local residents from Colorado. Fifty five percent of the owners reside
east of the Mississippi river leaving 13% from west of the Mississippi. The most common time
for these people to use their homes was between November and March during the ski season.
In the National Association of Realtors report (Molony 2006) based on two surveys in 2005 they
found the median distance the second home was from the primary residence was 197 miles, 47%
were less than 100 miles away and 43% were 500 miles away. The largest concentration of
second home buyers is in the Midwest at 33%, whereas 30% were in the south, west 20% and
northeast 17%.
US Census:
The number of second homes based on census data projected for 2006 using the sum of
(a)occasional use, (b) usually reside elsewhere, and (c) seasonal use, for the western states
(Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, California,
Hawaii, Oregon, Washington) was 1,493,000. These data are skewed a bit since they do not
include the states of South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas and adds Alaska and
Hawaii. Unfortunately these data are not available on a state by state basis.
Estimation Analysis:
West wide:
There are an estimated 1,493,000 second homes in west, X 0.47(percent under 500 miles) X 0.05
(estimate max percent carrying firewood) = 35,086 chances each year to move firewood under
500 miles to a second home. Is there a susceptible host near the location the firewood gets to? If
the second home is in a development then the answer is yes since green ash is commonly planted
in urban areas from Kansas to California. If the second home is in a conifer forest, the nearest
host tree would be in a nearby town. So if the insect can fly five miles there is a good chance of
introduction. For example in Estes Park, Colorado many second homes are with in five miles of
22
the city center and the city street trees are lined with green ash. Bend, Oregon is another urban
example where the dominant street tree is green ash while the native forest around the town is
conifer based.
Transporting firewood for the ski season or summer recreationwould be a great way to deposit
wood that might not be burned and allow for the spring or summer emergence of insects.
Colorado Example:
Second homes, in four mountain counties of Colorado that are popular for winter and summer
outdoor activities, accounted for 35,000 homes (Northwest Colorado Council of Governments.
2006). If 55% of the homeowners came from the eastern US and 43% could drive to their
second home and 5% might bring firewood there would be 414 homeowners that would fit this
scenario for these four counties.
There are other second home communities in southern Colorado where visitors from the
Midwest, Texas and California come in the winter and summer.
Results and Conclusions:





There are over 1.5 million second homes in the western states.
The owners may come from an infested area
Sixty five percent of the owners of second homes in a Colorado Study were not local
residents from Colorado. Fifty five percent of the owners reside east of the Mississippi
river leaving 13% from west of the Mississippi. The most common time for these people
to use their homes was between November and March during the ski season
Second home owners may bring firewood from home but we have no numbers to verify
this activity or the 5% estimate used in this exercise
Second home owners may provide pathways for exotics on firewood and the likely hood
might increase as the cost of energy increases and the owners want to bring their own
fuel.
23
D. Logs and minimally processed wood:
Assumptions:
 Logs and related materials can easily vector bark beetles, wood borers, canker, decay and
stain fungi.
 Hardwood and conifer logs are moved to pallet plants in Colorado from other states (Kurt
Mackes-Colorado State University, personal communication)
 A survey of logs via state highway weighing stations and a survey of railroad transport of
logs between states are needed.
 Saw mills, furniture manufacturing facilities and pallet plants need to be surveyed and
education program provided
 Collecting data on the volume and directional movement of logs was not within the scope
of this project.
 We need more information on this topic. We need to contract this information gathering
to a wood products and economic aspect researcher.
E. Pallets and packing materials:
Assumptions:

Pallets/Packing materials coming from outside the US are supposed to be fumigated
or heat treated but a percentage have raw wood and bark attached and may contain
insects and fungi
 Pallets/Packing materials from overseas move directly to western states without
inspection or containment.
 Where raw materials come from for the manufacturing of palletts and the risk of pest
introductions via recycling of pallets is a topic for high priority research
 Collecting data on the volume and directional movement of pallets was not within the
scope of this three week project.
 We need more information on this topic. We need to contract this information
gathering to a wood products researcher.
24
Value of Ash Resource in the Western US:
Assumptions:
The hectares occupied and numbers of native, wind break and urban ash in the west are
necessary data and will hopefully be collected in future projects related to this issue. For
example there is a large USDA Forest Service funded survey of urban forests ongoing in the
Great Plains states. The remaining western states municipal and urban professionals are
interested in doing similar surveys.
Native ash: There are several species and sub species of native ash in the west.
1. Fraxinus anomala (Single leaf ash): Found from western CO to eastern CA and south to
AZ and northwestern NM. Single leaf ash’s largest extent appears to be in UT(Appendix
Figure 4)
2. Fraxinus cuspidate (Fragrant ash): Scattered areas throughout AZ and New Mexico and
western TX (Appendix Figure 3).
3. Fraxinus velutina (Velvet ash): Found from southwestern UT to southern NV, and south
from western TX to southern CA. I t is the most common ash of the Southwest
(Appendix Figure 2).
4. Fraxinus latifolia (Oregon ash): Found along the western-coastal areas of WA, OR and
CA and in the Sierra Mtn of CA (Appendix Figure 1)
5.
Potential losses to native ash:
The extent and ecological importance of these four native species is not well known but a
literature search would be a logical first step in assessing their importance. Riparian tree
species and their importance has been a topic of interest in the Western United States for
years. The FIA plot system may eventurally include this resuource of “stringer” woodlands.
Green ash has naturalized in many of the river corridors of Colorado and the Great Plains
states. Green ash occurs as a common component with cottonwoods but the exact frequency
is not known since there are no data on woody plants in riparian ecosystems.
Urban ash:
There are many cultivars of green (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and white ash (Faxinus
americana) planted in urban areas of western states. The numbers of these trees in urban
areas vary with state, age of urban area, and climate. Urban residential and commercial areas
developed in the last 25 years in CO, UT, WY, and prairie states may have 10-50% green and
or white ash.
Examples of potential losses: the following are based on personal estimates by city foresters in each state or actuall inventory
data.





Oregon: 2-15% of urban trees are native and non-native ash with new developments
planted heavily to ash.
Washington: 1-13% of urban trees are native and non-native ash with larger cities with
larger components of ash.
North Dakota: 40% of urban forests are ash.
New Mexico: 15-30% of urban forests are ash.
Idaho: 1% in cities and windbreaks are ash.
25



South Dakota: 36% of urban forests are ash.
Nebraska: 20-40% of urban forests are ash.
Colorado: 15-25% of urban forests are ash.
Cost of removals and replacements:
 An example of costs in Colorado would 4.5 billion dollars lost in just the value of the
dead ash trees. The $4.5 billion estimate does not include take down and replacement
costs which would double this value.

The need for this data based on surveys and statistically valid sampling is imperative for
the immediate planning and mitigation activities in currently uninfested areas.
Forest Inventory and Analysis:
 The US Forest Service has inventory data on ash but in most data sets the ash is lumped
into a hardwood group with elms, or riparian species.
 It would be good to determine what the FIA folks can determine from their data about
ash distributions in native forests of the west.
Environmental impact: The environmental impact of dying ash trees includes:
 Loss of carbon fixed in these trees and increased green house gas production from
burning or decay of these trees
 Loss of heating and cooling energy reductions by homes and business
 Reduction off crop and animal production with the loss of wind breaks
 Riparian ecosystem disturbance in Southwestern and west coastal areas.
Results and Conclusions:






EAB will cause a significant impact to urban forests in western cities and wind breaks of
the Great Plains states.
The impact will be more devastating in areas with a higher percentage of ash such as the
northern Great Plains states.
Getting good estimates of tree numbers of our urban forests would be a first step in future
planning and management.
Currently there are only a few surveys that give actual estimates of the ash component in
urban forests of the west
US Forest Service inventories are currently not specific enough in the area of ash species
to give only a general impression of the existence of the tree.
The EAB issue is making funding available to do surveys to determine the extent of ash
in various areas. More funding or coordination among agencies and municipalities could
provide a readily available and useful data set for management of all issues not just EAB.
26
Risk reduction:
See detailed paythway analysis tables (Appendix Tables 12-18) for more input on risk
reduction.
General Actions:
1. Educate nursery plant producers, State Departments of Agriculture inspectors, nursery
plant retail and landscape installation companies, arborists and firewood and wood
products companies on the risk of shipping or planting infested plant material and how to
recognize disease and insect signs and symptoms.
2. If there are regulations implemented on firewood/minimally processed wood, make sure
the fine is at least $1,000 for firewood infractions.
3. Educate the public so firewood and recreational vehicles are not means of pest
movement.
4. The most important educational means (United States Dept of Interior, National Park
Visitor Studies, Visitor Services Project) that should be targeted by government agencies
responsible for tree pest management
 Word of mouth
 Travel Guides and tour books
 Web pages for park and other agencies
 Newspaper/magazine
 Maps and bulletins
 State and local welcome centers
5. Urge states, parks, and other local, state and Federal agencies to require only locally
produced firewood to be used while camping.
6. Provide local firewood for minimal cost at camping locations
7. Require all Federal concessionaires to provide certified local (within the state) firewood
only and to require only firewood produced within the state to be used in the campground
if camper brought
8. All ash plants and hardwood firewood and logs should be prohibited from crossing the
Mississippi River
9. Urge all ash trees removed in uninfested areas to be chipped just in case they are
harboring EAB. Chips 1 inch or smaller do not harbor EAB larva however chips may
harbor fungal pathogens for up to three years (Koski and Jacobi 2004)
10. APHIS requires all hardwood firewood from Canada to carry a certificate that it does not
come from an infested area of Canada. We have not seen this on retail firewood?
11. Encourage more public participation such as the, Union of Cncerned Scientists. Pledge:
use local firewood, do not cross county lines with firewood, do not leave unused
firewood, burn all wood where it was purchased.
Organizational Actions:
1. Each state should form an invasive species committee that keeps APHIS, State
Departmetn of Agriculture, State Forestry Departments., University, Extension, Federal
Forest Service, BLM and diagnostic networks communicating through periodic
gatherings and communications.
2. Multiple states that share pathways and similar risk should implement consistent
regulations and educational messages so industry, public and agencies do not have
27
conflicting or inconsistent messages. For example the Great Plains states should have
similar messages and regulations as should the Rocky Mt and Interior Mountain states
that have huge tourist influxes and large firewood consumptions.
3. Promote statewide and municipal tree inventories so the impact of EAB on the ash trees
is known to the communities planning for mitigation can be applicable.
4. Municipalities need to figure out an insurance program so funding for tree removals can
occur rapidly if an isolated infestation is found. If the infestation is unchecked
municipalities and the public will need hundred’s of thousands to millions of dollars to
remove and replace urban trees.
5. Firewood needs to be certified by State Departments of Agriculture as to its origin and
composition. There is no way for camp grounds or the public to determine where the
wood is from unless it is labeled. Unfortunately, for many large firewood companies the
company address does not have anything to do with where the wood actually came from.
6. State Departments of Ag and other agencies need to go on a blitz of education of
firewood dealers and the public.
7. Educational programs are not organized across regions to spread the same message
8. Municipalities, state parks, homeowners, and farmers with wind breaks are the the
entities that will bear the brunt of tree mortality and there are no programs to help
mitigate these costs.
9. A environmental impact tax should be implemented on all material imported into North
American to provide a “super fund clean up” account for exotic animals, plants, insects
and pathogens
6. Data and Information Gaps:
Risk prediction and assessment is hampered by the lack of data on:
 How many woody nursery plants are moved across state lines and from what state of
origin and holding locations
 Location and numbers of natural riparian and urban trees by species-especially
hardwoods
 How long minimally processed wood remains infested with insects and fungi
 How much firewood is infested with organisms of concern
 How much firewood is moving across state lines by commercial operations
 How much firewood is sold
 How much firewood is moved across state lines by individuals (ie campers,hunters etc)
 How many minimally processed logs by species are moved across state lines
28
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30
Acknowledgements:
I would like to thank the numerous volunteers who helped with the west wide firewood survey
and providing other information including P. Angwin, J. Blodgett, I. Aguayo, A. Crump, A.
Eglitis, H. Kearns, J. Ball, M. Gleason, J. Hoffman, S. Frankel, B. Geils, J. Guyon, E. Goheen,
D. Hildebrand, M. Kangas, D. Omdal, J. Morrow, F. Krist, L. Peraino, J. Pronos, T. Shaw, J.
Beaty, B. Woodruff, L. Mannix, M. Harrell, A. Kanaskie, P. Zambino, N. Tisserat, J. Walla,
M.L. Fairweather, B. Goodrich, R. Koski, Kara Hempy-Myer and acknowledge the help of
numerous businesses people who took the time to answer questions over the phone , J.
zumbrunnen and others for detailed field work and data analysis and the USDA Forest Service,
PNW, WWETAC staff for help, encouragement and discussions.
31
Appendix
Appendix: Table 1. New homes in western region in 2006
State
Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
Kansas
Montana
Nebraska
New Mexico
Nevada
North Dakota
Oregon
South Dakota
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
Number of new homes in 2006
65,363
160,502
38,343
17,075
14,619
4,542
8,230
13,573
39,445
3,529
26,623
5,304
25,873
50,033
3,537
Total
476,591
Appendix: Table 2. Existing Single family homes in the West based on 2005 American
Community Survey, U.S. Census.
State
Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
Kansas
Montana
Nebraska
New Mexico
Nevada
North Dakota
Oregon
South Dakota
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
Total
Number of homes
1502457
7070138
903259
379948
744580
254458
474682
504354
550125
182490
909113
214246
558769
1584549
146504
15,979,672
32
Appendix Table 3. Nursery stock insepected in 2006 in Colorado by stock type.
Nursery Stock Inspected in 2006 by County and Stock Type for Colorado
Sum Of QntyInsp
Year
Month
2006
County
Stock Type
ADAMS
EVERGREEN
FRUIT TREE
April
2006 Total
May
40
ORNAMENTAL
ROSES
SHADE TREE
300
3924
227
40
400
707
707
656
280
415
1351
1351
1113
7090
115
8618
8618
736
500
1806
1806
9040
1080
13163
13163
2
2
252
365
30
647
647
6501
19942
2985
30218
30218
EVERGREEN
700
95
795
795
FRUIT TREE
100
50
150
150
ORNAMENTAL
350
300
650
650
ROSES
225
400
625
625
SHADE TREE
200
1200
1400
1400
SHRUBS
500
350
850
850
3000
3000
2
790
TURFGRASS
VINES
3000
175
100
275
275
5250
2495
7745
7745
EVERGREEN
530
15799
3112
19441
19441
FRUIT TREE
75
1716
2041
3832
3832
ORNAMENTAL
120
2232
1825
4177
4177
ROSES
160
12013
2312
14485
14485
SHADE TREE
120
7080
4167
11367
11367
SHRUBS
640
19879
5701
26220
26220
ALAMOSA Total
TURFGRASS
VINES
ARAPAHOE Total
200
100
1745
200
200
3631
7244
7244
62432 22789
86966
86966
3513
EVERGREEN
1420
1420
1420
FRUIT TREE
321
321
321
ORNAMENTAL
290
290
290
ROSES
850
850
850
SHADE TREE
1640
1640
1640
SHRUBS
1270
1270
1270
650
650
650
6441
6441
6441
36
36
36
VINES
ARCHULETA Total
EVERGREEN
FRUIT TREE
ROSES
SHADE TREE
SHRUBS
VINES
BACA Total
BENT
3924
520
ADAMS Total
BACA
September
445
2643
VINES
ARCHULETA
August
2391
50
TURFGRASS
ARAPAHOE
July
1088
400
SHRUBS
ALAMOSA
June
Grand Total
EVERGREEN
2
2
2
61
61
61
66
66
66
218
218
218
3
3
3
386
386
386
12
12
12
33
FRUIT TREE
30
30
30
ROSES
20
20
20
SHADE TREE
39
39
39
SHRUBS
99
99
99
5
5
5
205
205
205
4932
VINES
BENT Total
BOULDER
EVERGREEN
291
338
2781
1302
220
4932
FRUIT TREE
16
398
185
75
60
734
734
ORNAMENTAL
62
524
781
204
50
1621
1621
ROSES
333
593
6051
864
200
8041
8041
SHADE TREE
48
614
2338
220
20
3240
3240
SHRUBS
77
925
12656
1218
1150
16026
16026
90
160
24
274
274
420
400
894
431
480
2625
2625
1247
3882
25846
4314
2204
37493
37493
150
1215
1920
540
3825
3825
65
125
62
220
568
568
165
159
140
1475
1939
1939
TURFGRASS
VINES
BOULDER Total
BROOMFIELD
EVERGREEN
FRUIT TREE
96
ORNAMENTAL
ROSES
SHADE TREE
SHRUBS
VINES
BROOMFIELD Total
CHAFFEE
305
560
262
640
1767
1767
112
65
490
127
670
1464
1464
85
540
641
305
2760
4331
4331
187
112
220
529
529
1290
3377
2928
6525
14423
14423
10
303
EVERGREEN
1680
1680
1680
FRUIT TREE
185
185
185
ORNAMENTAL
397
397
397
ROSES
277
277
277
SHADE TREE
370
370
370
SHRUBS
523
523
523
VINES
145
145
145
CHAFFEE Total
COSTILLA
3577
3577
3577
40
40
40
40
40
40
EVERGREEN
100
100
100
FRUIT TREE
25
25
25
ORNAMENTAL
25
25
25
ROSES
50
50
50
SHADE TREE
100
100
100
SHRUBS
150
150
150
25
25
25
475
475
475
ORNAMENTAL
COSTILLA Total
CUSTER
VINES
CUSTER Total
DELTA
EVERGREEN
2450
1585
4035
4035
FRUIT TREE
1080
1060
2140
2140
ORNAMENTAL
1000
880
1880
1880
ROSES
2300
4950
7250
7250
SHADE TREE
6200
3725
9925
9925
SHRUBS
5500
4350
9850
9850
VINES
DELTA Total
DENVER
EVERGREEN
1150
1225
2375
2375
19680
17775
37455
37455
4557
4557
735
34
2157
465
1200
FRUIT TREE
140
173
120
322
755
755
ORNAMENTAL
130
1296
270
750
2446
2446
1835
6400
1020
15
9373
9373
60
310
287
2000
2657
2657
1015
2946
4276
5400
13637
13637
70
120
120
20
500
2540
554
400
4014
4014
123
10157
ROSES
103
SHADE TREE
SHRUBS
TURFGRASS
VINES
DENVER Total
DOUGLAS
50
4415
15872
6992
37559
37559
EVERGREEN
255
7189
2961
10405
10405
FRUIT TREE
90
2773
2469
5332
5332
ORNAMENTAL
170
3602
2676
6448
6448
ROSES
355
2054
5236
7645
7645
SHADE TREE
164
12166
3041
15371
15371
1000
4835
5638
11473
11473
SHRUBS
TURFGRASS
VINES
DOUGLAS Total
EAGLE
560
250
2284
34412 23451
60147
60147
10597
10597
FRUIT TREE
285
2248
2533
2533
ORNAMENTAL
400
4976
5376
5376
2100
4002
6102
6102
35250
8398
43648
43648
SHRUBS
4050
8502
12552
12552
VINES
1030
3557
4587
4587
44645 40750
85395
85395
EVERGREEN
10730
2955
13685
13685
FRUIT TREE
1883
1770
3653
3653
ORNAMENTAL
2195
1685
3880
3880
ROSES
5540
1850
7390
7390
SHADE TREE
5920
6055
11975
11975
16400
5875
22275
22275
706
361
1067
1067
1975
1075
3050
3050
45349
21626
66975
66975
SHRUBS
TURFGRASS
VINES
EL PASO Total
EVERGREEN
225
225
225
FRUIT TREE
326
326
326
ORNAMENTAL
200
200
200
ROSES
150
150
150
SHADE TREE
250
250
250
SHRUBS
275
275
275
VINES
200
200
200
1626
1626
1626
ELBERT Total
EVERGREEN
1175
1175
1175
FRUIT TREE
350
350
350
ORNAMENTAL
300
300
300
1190
1190
1190
ROSES
SHADE TREE
SHRUBS
VINES
FREMONT Total
2913
9067
EAGLE Total
FREMONT
2913
1530
SHADE TREE
ELBERT
560
1430
1233
EVERGREEN
ROSES
EL PASO
560
527
527
527
3855
3855
3855
455
455
455
7852
7852
7852
35
GARFIELD
EVERGREEN
550
3430
3980
3980
FRUIT TREE
100
1090
1190
1190
ORNAMENTAL
320
1105
1425
1425
ROSES
1550
5900
7450
7450
SHADE TREE
2050
7060
9110
9110
SHRUBS
1200
8010
9210
9210
175
2290
2465
2465
5945
28885
VINES
GARFIELD Total
GRAND
EVERGREEN
ORNAMENTAL
ROSES
SHADE TREE
14
14
158
65
65
VINES
16
16
16
366
366
366
2295
2295
2295
620
620
620
ROSES
1450
1450
1450
SHADE TREE
5700
5700
5700
SHRUBS
3100
3100
3100
EVERGREEN
390
390
390
13555
13555
13555
EVERGREEN
216
1822
3656
2837
8531
8531
FRUIT TREE
189
675
819
466
2149
2149
ORNAMENTAL
185
1346
739
1375
3645
3645
ROSES
299
1748
2256
915
5218
5218
89
655
878
1997
3619
3619
866
2539
3865
1759
9029
9029
15
84
381
2
482
482
SHADE TREE
SHRUBS
TURFGRASS
VINES
JEFFERSON Total
90
756
751
628
2225
2225
1949
9625
13345
9979
34898
34898
EVERGREEN
483
483
483
FRUIT TREE
48
48
48
ORNAMENTAL
50
50
50
ROSES
482
482
482
SHADE TREE
496
496
496
SHRUBS
757
757
757
52
52
52
VINES
KIT CARSON Total
2368
2368
2368
EVERGREEN
6550
6550
6550
FRUIT TREE
1130
1130
1130
ORNAMENTAL
1600
1600
1600
ROSES
5800
5800
5800
SHADE TREE
29050
29050
29050
SHRUBS
8100
8100
8100
VINES
2225
2225
2225
54455
54455
54455
LA PLATA Total
LARIMER
2
14
158
VINES
LA PLATA
2
65
GUNNISON Total
KIT CARSON
111
2
158
ORNAMENTAL
JEFFERSON
34830
111
SHRUBS
GRAND Total
GUNNISON
34830
111
EVERGREEN
2115
2817
300
5232
5232
FRUIT TREE
402
1541
350
2293
2293
ORNAMENTAL
376
2035
500
2911
2911
36
ROSES
2512
3016
200
5728
5728
SHADE TREE
1174
4617
1000
6791
6791
SHRUBS
4045
6000
680
10725
10725
VINES
1582
398
56
2036
2036
12206
20424
3086
35716
35716
LARIMER Total
LAS ANIMAS
EVERGREEN
110
110
110
FRUIT TREE
45
45
45
ORNAMENTAL
12
12
12
135
135
135
ROSES
SHADE TREE
55
55
55
SHRUBS
295
295
295
VINES
145
145
145
797
797
797
36
37
37
75
75
75
LAS ANIMAS Total
LINCOLN
EVERGREEN
1
FRUIT TREE
ORNAMENTAL
6
10
16
16
ROSES
2
20
22
22
SHADE TREE
28
25
53
53
SHRUBS
85
40
125
125
5
5
5
VINES
LINCOLN Total
LOGAN
333
333
EVERGREEN
1850
122
1850
1850
FRUIT TREE
370
370
370
ORNAMENTAL
620
620
620
ROSES
440
440
440
SHADE TREE
SHRUBS
VINES
LOGAN Total
MESA
435
435
435
1520
1520
1520
130
130
130
5365
5365
5365
EVERGREEN
705
6090
6795
6795
FRUIT TREE
475
2345
2820
2820
ORNAMENTAL
375
7490
7865
7865
ROSES
900
11125
12025
12025
SHADE TREE
2250
16000
18250
18250
SHRUBS
1600
10425
12025
12025
275
2650
2925
2925
6580
56125
62705
62705
VINES
MESA Total
MOFFAT
EVERGREEN
65
65
65
FRUIT TREE
28
28
28
ORNAMENTAL
35
35
35
ROSES
60
60
60
SHADE TREE
47
47
47
145
145
145
SHRUBS
MOFFAT Total
MONTEZUMA
211
380
380
EVERGREEN
3240
380
3240
3240
FRUIT TREE
1290
1290
1290
ORNAMENTAL
1450
1450
1450
ROSES
4350
4350
4350
SHADE TREE
7775
7775
7775
SHRUBS
6000
6000
6000
37
VINES
MONTEZUMA Total
MONTROSE
1850
25955
25955
25955
1320
2500
3820
3820
FRUIT TREE
840
500
1340
1340
ORNAMENTAL
780
750
1530
1530
ROSES
1400
2000
3400
3400
SHADE TREE
4150
10500
14650
14650
SHRUBS
1870
2000
3870
3870
570
600
1170
1170
10930
18850
29780
29780
EVERGREEN
1520
14
1534
1534
FRUIT TREE
300
300
300
ORNAMENTAL
680
680
680
MONTROSE Total
ROSES
1450
19
1469
1469
SHADE TREE
2515
8
2523
2523
SHRUBS
2075
35
2110
2110
VINES
MORGAN Total
OTERO
1850
EVERGREEN
VINES
MORGAN
1850
327
8867
76
477
477
FRUIT TREE
269
269
269
ORNAMENTAL
60
60
60
ROSES
66
66
66
SHADE TREE
276
276
276
SHRUBS
620
620
620
80
80
80
1848
1848
1848
EVERGREEN
150
150
150
ORNAMENTAL
200
200
200
SHADE TREE
500
500
500
SHRUBS
OURAY Total
500
500
500
1350
1350
1350
EVERGREEN
17
17
17
FRUIT TREE
5
5
5
ORNAMENTAL
25
25
25
ROSES
10
10
10
4
4
4
15
15
15
7
7
7
SHADE TREE
SHRUBS
VINES
PARK Total
PHILLIPS
83
83
EVERGREEN
83
10
10
10
FRUIT TREE
20
20
20
ORNAMENTAL
15
15
15
ROSES
15
15
15
SHADE TREE
20
20
20
SHRUBS
30
30
30
110
110
110
PHILLIPS Total
PITKIN
8943
477
OTERO Total
PARK
327
8943
EVERGREEN
VINES
OURAY
327
EVERGREEN
350
350
350
FRUIT TREE
25
25
25
ORNAMENTAL
75
75
75
950
950
950
ROSES
38
SHADE TREE
SHRUBS
VINES
PITKIN Total
PROWERS
750
750
4300
4300
358
358
84
84
84
1189
1189
1189
530
530
530
1877
1877
1877
VINES
PROWERS Total
35
35
35
4073
4073
4073
EVERGREEN
1675
160
1835
1835
FRUIT TREE
2221
195
2416
2416
906
90
996
996
ROSES
2965
180
3145
3145
SHADE TREE
2726
235
2961
2961
SHRUBS
5435
1590
7025
7025
TURFGRASS
1071
1071
1071
VINES
1465
85
1550
1550
18464
2535
20999
20999
310
300
610
610
50
50
50
200
210
210
375
90
465
465
10
150
160
160
SHRUBS
650
350
1000
1000
VINES
230
40
270
270
1585
1180
2765
2765
EVERGREEN
290
290
290
FRUIT TREE
197
197
197
ORNAMENTAL
265
265
265
ROSES
146
146
146
SHADE TREE
990
990
990
SHRUBS
675
675
675
ORNAMENTAL
PUEBLO Total
EVERGREEN
FRUIT TREE
ORNAMENTAL
10
ROSES
SHADE TREE
RIO GRANDE Total
ROUTT Total
SUMMIT
750
4300
358
SHRUBS
ROUTT
850
1300
FRUIT TREE
SHADE TREE
RIO GRANDE
850
1300
EVERGREEN
ROSES
PUEBLO
850
1300
2563
2563
2563
389
389
389
ORNAMENTAL
37
37
37
ROSES
81
81
81
SHADE TREE
284
284
284
SHRUBS
313
313
313
3
3
3
53
53
53
1160
1160
1160
215
215
EVERGREEN
TURFGRASS
VINES
SUMMIT Total
WASHINGTON
EVERGREEN
ORNAMENTAL
15
80
80
80
ROSES
300
40
340
340
SHADE TREE
150
12
162
162
SHRUBS
200
30
230
230
930
97
1027
1027
5260
5260
WASHINGTON Total
WELD
200
EVERGREEN
1725
39
3435
100
FRUIT TREE
245
970
ORNAMENTAL
200
1270
1405
2160
365
1700
80
2145
2145
4249
10920
50
15219
15219
ROSES
SHADE TREE
SHRUBS
TURFGRASS
VINES
WELD Total
YUMA
EVERGREEN
185
FRUIT TREE
10
ORNAMENTAL
93
ROSES
SHADE TREE
SHRUBS
YUMA Total
Grand Total
20
1215
1215
1490
1490
3565
3565
150
150
150
201
825
1026
1026
8390
21430
30070
30070
465
465
250
280
10
10
65
158
158
290
290
290
49
105
154
154
346
295
641
641
683
1035
1718
1718
867490
867490
57447 328470 341818 117158
40
22487
110
Appendix Table 4. Visitor and Camper Data from National Parks in Western U.S.
Region
State
Visitors to
National
Parks in 2006
Rocky Mt
New Mexico
Colorado
1,620,457
5,289,308
Wyoming
Great Plains
Interior West
Coastal
Parks in
estimate
Average
percent
visitors from
eastern US
31,950
448,722
Bandelier
Great Sand
25
29
7,987
130,129
5,322,531
1,163,045
37.5 (30-45)
436,142
Montana
Sub total
3,897,415
16,129,711
920,550
2,564,267
Grand Teton
Yellowstone
Glacier
35
31.6
322,192
896,450
North Dakota
South Dakota
Nebraska
Kansas
Sub total
472,986
3,703,047
225,937
125,408
4,527,378
20,768
40,182
0
0
60,950
31.6*
19,260
Idaho
Utah
435,806
7,840,356
11,860
1,651,779
23
31.3 (27-35)
2,727
517,006
Nevada
Arizona
Sub total
5,911,839
10,543,205
24,731,206
830,032
1,661,150
4,160,821
Washington
6,518,791
661,417
Oregon
California
806,344
32,906,849
Over night
Visitors in
2006
68,973
2,898,448
Craters of Moon
Zion
Arches
Bryce
Grand Canyon
Olympic
Mt Rainier
Crater Lake,
Oregon Caves
John Day
Lassen
Yosemite
Sequoia
45*
45.0
373,514
747,517
1,640,764
20 (15-25)
132,283
12.7 (10-18)
8,759
16.7 (5-20)
484,041
Sub total
40,231,984
3,628,838
Total
88,574,737
10,414,876
* Data derived from other near by state sources since state data not available.
Total visitor numbers and over night visitors from NPS Public Statistic Office from 2006 visitor data.
Average percent of visitors from east of the Mississippi available from online from University of Idaho, Park Services Unit.
Average number of visitors camping from east = (% visitors from east X over night visitors)
41
Estimated
number of
campers
from eastern
US
625,083
3,181,557
Appendix Table 5. Firewood Transportation by Campers Survey in Colorado Summer
2007.
HOME STATE/ COUNTRY
FREQUENCY
PERCENT
AK
1
0.21
AR
1
0.21
AZ
5
1.03
CA
7
1.45
CANADA
3
0.63
CO
138
28.51
FL
6
1.24
IA
8
1.65
IL
15
3.1
IN
5
1.03
KS
20
4.13
LA
2
0.41
MA
4
0.83
MEXICO
1
0.21
MI
4
0.83
MN
5
1.03
MO
15
3.1
MT
1
0.21
NB
1
0.21
NC
1
0.21
NE
5
1.03
NJ
1
0.21
NM
8
1.65
NV
1
0.21
NY
1
0.21
OH
3
0.62
OK
9
1.86
OR
1
0.21
PA
1
0.21
SC
1
0.21
SWITZERLAND
1
0.21
TN
2
0.41
TX
14
2.89
VA
2
0.41
VT
1
0.21
WI
3
0.62
WY
2
0.41
78
16.12
106
21.9
CAR/CAMPERS NOT AT SITE
EMPTY SITE
Campgrounds in survey: Rocky Mountain NP, Glacier Basin(7/27/2007),Morraine Park (7/24/2007), Great Sand Dunes NP and Preserve, Pinyon
Flats (7/20/2007), Arapahoe/Roosevelt NF, Dowdy Lakes (7/5/2007), Bel-Aire Lakes(7/5/2007), Mountain Park (7/5/2007), and West Lake
(7/5/2007) Total sites visited 484 and home states recorded on 300.
42
Appendix Table 6. State source of firewood of camper firewood
STATE SOURCE
AZ
CO
KS
LA
MO
NE
OK
TX
UT
WY
NO WOOD
FREQUENCY
PERCENT
2
143
2
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
52
0.96
68.42
0.96
0.48
0.96
0.96
0.48
0.96
0.48
0.48
24.88
Of campers with firewood: 48.0 % bought it from local vendors, 20.3% brought it from home or
cut it on their property.
43
Apendix Table 7. Example of camper survey of firewood use data sheet
Colorado Campground Firewood Survey
Comments:
Comments
44
Ascomycete
fruiting bodies
stain fungi
bark beetles
Bark on Species 2?
(y/n)
Species 2 **
1=conifer
2=hardwood
3= both
Bark on Species 1?
(y/n)
Home
state of
camper
Species 1 **
1=RV
2=trailer
3=tent trailer
4=tent
5=other
State Source
Camp
ground
code
site number
Date
collected
(mm/dd/yy)
NP
Information about wood
45
Appendix Table 8. West wide retail firewood survey results: Spring/Summer 2007.
State
Arizona
California
Colorado
Big box
stores
Farm
and
ranch
Convenience
stores
Grocery
stores
Tree
care
Flagstaff
4
2
0
0
0
0
Berkeley
0
2
0
0
0
1
Redding
0
3
0
0
0
Kingsburg
1
1
0
0
Sonora
3
1
0
Truckee
1
3
0
Tahoe City
4
3
Susanville
0
Durango
1
Fort Collins
Evidence of
insects
% of
bundles
Evidence
of fungi
% of
bundles
Out of
state
hardwood
4
2
0
6
0
100
2
1
1
1
2
0
30
0
3
0
1
1
1
33
100
1
2
3
2
1
4
0
80
40
0
0
1
5
0
1
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
3
2
5
0
42
72
4
0
0
0
0
4
0
3
1
0
0
50
1
3
0
0
0
1
4
1
3
1
60
40
4
3
0
1
0
0
8
0
1
7
0
80
20
CO Springs
2
3
0
0
0
0
3
2
2
3
0
100
50
Pueblo
1
4
0
0
0
0
5
0
4
0
1
100
100
Avon
0
3
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
2
1
100
100
Glenwood Sp
2
2
0
0
0
0
2
2
2
2
0
100
100
Rifle
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
100
100
Moscow1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
100
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
6
0
0
50
50
Reno
3
5
0
0
0
0
6
2
2
6
0
25
100
Carson City
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
4
3
1
0
0
50
South Lake Tahoe
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
4
4
0
0
0
75
Fargo/Grand Forks
7
1
0
0
0
0
2
6
7
0
0
71
28
Sandy
1
4
2
1
0
0
4
4
0
6
2
40
40
Bend
1
4
1
0
0
0
2
4
0
6
0
83
100
Medford
0
2
1
0
0
0
2
1
0
2
1
33
0
Rapid City
1
3
1
0
0
0
1
4
0
2
3
100
80
Ogden
2
2
0
0
2
0
6
0
2
4
0
100
100
State/city
Other
local
conifer
Both
100
Kansas2
Idaho
Coeur de Alene
Boise
Montana
Missoula4
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oregon
South Dakota
Utah
46
Washington
Wyoming
TOTAL
Olympia
2
2
2
0
0
0
1
5
4
2
0
83
Green River2
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
1
2
100
0
50
66
11
2
3
4
82
54
50
71
15
60.0
57.4
36.7%
48.0%
8.0%
1.5%
2.2%
2.9%
60.3%
39.7%
36.7%
52.2%
11.0%
TOTAL
Percent of
total 136
1
In Moscow ID area the survey found most firewood is from local sources and many carry wax logs and or pellets.
One convenience store had three suppliers from CO, BC and Kroger- Eastern looking hardwoods.\
3
Kansas is conducting a survey of firewood dealers in Ks. Their data are slightly different that the west side survey so it is not presented in this table. They did
find fire wood from AR, CA, CO, MO, NM, and TX. Big box stores bring in hardwoods from TX, CA but the exact source is unknown.
4
At Missoula MT there was little firewood found since it is seasonal and there are strict burning bans in effect.
2
Not all columns add up equally since one store had three different bundles of firewood.
47
83
Appendix Table 9: Example of firewood survey form for Spring/Summer 2007
Western United States Firewood Survey
Ascomycete
fruiting bodies
Basdiomycete
fruiting bodies
stain fungi
Phone
number
bark beetles
Zip
code
Evidence of insects and/or
fungi in wood (y/n)
borers
Wood
Supplier
Name
State
Information of wood dealer (if available)
State Source
Species 2 **
1=conifer
2=hardwood
3= both
Bark on Species 2?
(y/n)
Name of
Business
Where
Wood is
Sold
Species 1 **
1=corner store
2=grocery store
3=department store
4=tree care
5=firewood supply
6=other
Bark on Species 1?
(y/n)
Zip Code
Date
of
Survey
collected
Location
(mm/dd/yy) (or city)
State
Information about wood
collected
Comments:
Comments
Comments
Comments
** Species: pine = 1, fir = 2, other conifer = 3, oak = 4, ash = 5, aspen = 6, other hardwood=7, not determinable = 8/ Use next line for evid. of insects data if two spec. in bundle
Survey minimums: I will take any and all data. However, I would greatly appreciate if you are in a large town to obtain data from at least two examples of three types of businesses .
You may enter the data and send me the spread sheet or you can print the form and just write on the form and fax it to me (and I will enter the data). Thank you for your help with this
survey! Bill Jacobi, william.jacobi@colostate.edu. Feel free to call: (970) 491-6927, fax: (970) 491-3862, or email with questions or comments on the survey.
48
Appendix Table 10. Large retail outlets in Western U.S. that may sell firewood.
Large retail outlets in
Western US
State
Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
Kansas
Montana
Nebraska
New Mexico
Nevada
North Dakota
Orgeon
South Dakota
Utah
Washington
Wyoming
Total
Wal mart super
centers
51
25
48
16
45
9
27
28
23
7
14
12
28
25
10
Wal
mart
discount
centers
23
144
13
3
10
3
0
3
4
2
15
0
2
20
0
Wal-mart
Distribution
centers
3
9
2
0
1
0
1
1
2
0
1
0
3
2
1
Home
Depot
stores
54
229
45
10
16
0
8
0
0
0
23
1
20
45
5
Home
Depot
Distribution
centers
2
10
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
0
Lowes
stores
25
85
22
7
10
5
5
10
14
3
11
3
12
28
1
Grocery
stores
616
3645
455
146
276
94
176
195
249
63
370
78
255
639
51
Convenience
stores
2808
16602
2072
668
1259
430
805
890
1136
290
1685
3989
1161
2912
235
Census
population
6166318
36457549
4550688
1466465
2764075
944632
1768331
1954599
2495529
635867
3700758
781919
2550063
6395798
515004
368
242
26
456
18
241
7308
36943
73147595
49
Table 11. Estimated firewood volumes sold per year in western region.
Big box-Wal-Mart
and home depot 1,307at 50%
carrying firewood1
635
Grocery at 75%
carrying firewood1
5,481
Convenience at 30%
carrying firewood1
total outlets with
wood
total X 38% average
out of state firewood
1
11,083
17,199
6,536
x4
cords/yr
=2,540
x2
cords/yr
=
10,962
x1
cords/yr
=
11,083
24,585
cords
9,342
cords
See Table 10 for counts and estimates of retail outlets.
50
Appendix Table 12. Pathways of exotic pest movement on wood material into and within Western United States.
Pathway
Nursery Stock
Original Source
Production nursery in origin state
Mid point
Transport to wholesaler in another state
Final location
retail nursery in new state
big box store
directly to landscape site
Natural tree corridors
Introduction location
Riparian area, Urban forest, Wind breaks
Rocky Mountain Front Range L
Commercial firewood
Commercial production yard
Pruning materials
Saw mill residue
Land clearing
Forest management
Wholesale warehouse
Grocery store
Convenience store
Big box store
Commercial restaurant
M
M
M
L
Camper firewood
Grocery store
Convenience store
Big box store
Local forest- small dealer or self
Campgrounds between home and destination
Campground
National Park
Private campground
Forest Service Campground
M
M
H
L
Small firewood dealers
Local dead trees
Pruning material
Tree removals
Near by state with hardwood
Dealer storage yard
Homeowner
Convenience store
Restaurant
Camp ground
H
L
L
M
Second home owner
Local forest- small dealer or self
Commercial supply
Motel if home more that one day away
Forest
City
Lake or ocean
L
M
M
Pallets/packing material
Asia
Local hardwood sources
Warehouses across country
Cities and businesses
H
Logs for products
? future research ?
Bio Fuels
?future research?
51
Risk
H
H
H
Appendix Table 13. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Nursery Stock
Pathway
Nursery Stock
Original Source
Production nursery in origin state
Mid point
Transport to wholesaler in another state
Final location
retail nursery in new state
big box store
directly to landscape site
landscape after retail
Risk
H
Invasives
Borers
Canker fungi
Stain fungi
Root fungi
Notes:
Original source-Nursery production risk: High: Nurseries are at a high risk for receiving and introducing new exotic pathogens and insects because of the volume
of plant movement into these locations from various locations including overseas shipments. Fungi may hybridize between exotic and native strains and provide
for new strains that can attack native plants that might not have been able to since they were exotics. Large production nurseries have a lot of professional talent
that monitors the plant quality so the high risk is offset by monitoring of plant health.
Mid point risk: High. If plants are transported to a holding location it is not known by the receiving site where the plants might have been. If the holding
location is near exotic or native pests that do not reside in the receiving location there is the potential for infestation of the plants while they are in holding. The
plants will be slightly stressed because of the holding situation so will be susceptible to infestation.
Final location: High. Plants in retail nurseries are usually close to cities or within cities so insects will not have far to fly to reach a host. Cities have multiple
hardwood and conifer species in their populations that can act as hosts for exotics. The landscape where the plant is established is obviously even a better final
location for an exotic. However, retail outlets have professionals present that will monitor the stock and find infested materials before it leaves the yard. Big box
stores usually have seasonal staff handling plant that might not be as familiar with insects and disease. The highest risk is with plants moving directly to
landscape installation sites where there is less chance of someone noticing a plant health problem.
Invasives: High .All listed groups should be able to be transported and have been transported via nursery stock.
52
Appendix Table 14. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Natural Tree Corridors
Pathway
Natural tree corridors
Original Source
Introduction location
Mid point
Riparian area, Urban forest, Wind breaks
Final location
Risk
Invasives
Western Region
H- but slow
Borers
Rest of west via human movement
Canker fungi
Stain fungi
Root fungi
Notes:
Original source: Example-Location in Chicago- High: Large cities have many plant materials, firewood, packing materials moving into and through these
locations.
Mid point risk: High. If EAB is moving from east to west through the natural and urban forests then it will move easily north and south in communities and
forests that are near an east-west corridor. Once EAB reaches the eastern Great Plains states the risk to spread is less in the western parts of the states since tree
density is much less except along riparian corridors. In North and South Dakota ash wind breaks are much more common in the western half of the state than in
Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas. Example: Riparian zone along the Platte River has green ash component all the way to Colorado Front Range via the South
Platte and Poudre Rivers. Management would be much easier in the Great Plains where ash trees are less common and eradication would be feasible.
Final location: High. The Front Range of Colorado has a high density of ash in urban locations. Movement to the other states in the west will have to be
primarily by human movement of nursery stock or firewood or minimally processed wood. Ash host type does exist in riparian zones in the south western states
so if the insect was transported to these areas it could move but the riparian areas are separated by large distances so there is a low risk of movement to other
large urban areas of AZ and CA
Invasives: High. Primarily flying insects can move the easiest this way and fungi vectored by insects can be moved easily such as the new ambrosia beetles on
red bay.
53
Appendix Table 15. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Commercial Firewood
Pathway
Original Source
Mid point
Final location
Risk
Invasives
Commercial firewood
Commercial production yard
Pruning materials
Saw mill residue
Land clearing
Forest management
Wholesale warehouse
Grocery store
Convenience store
Big box store
Commercial restaurant
Camper- see next line
Moderate
Borers
Canker fungi
Stain fungi
Decay fungi
Notes:
Original source Risk: - Low to Moderate: Potentially from land clearing or tree removals in EAB infestation area People will be trying to make money from
the large amount of ash killed and removed from urban areas in the infested areas. If only one person puts this wood into the firewood pathway, it might be
moved to many states within months. Education of firewood companies should be a top priority of APHIS and State Department of Agricultures and Forest
Services.
Mid point risk: High. If the firewood source is moved to a processing area then that area there is a high probability that infestation of surrounding hosts will
occur.
Final location: Moderate. Firewood is sold inside and outside of convenience, grocery, and big box stores and supplied as heating fuel through out the west. If
infested firewood is moved to an urban community rish is hight since in most towns ash is a large component of the urban forest..
Invasives: High .Primarily flying insects can move easily this way and fungi vectored by insects can be moved easily such as the new ambrosia beetles on red
bay. Decay fungi and canker fungi can be moved when the wood is taken home and it sits outside and it can get wet from irrigation or precipitation events.
54
Appendix Table 16. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Camper Firewood
Pathway
Original Source
Mid point
Final location
Risk
Camper firewood
Grocery store
Convenience store
Big box store
Local forest- small dealer or self
Campgrounds
Campground
?
National Park
Private campground
Forest Service Campground
Invasives
Borers
Bark beetles
Canker fungi
Notes:
Original source Risk: Low to Moderate. Firewood could potentially come from land clearing or tree removals in EAB infestation area. People will be trying to
make money from the large amount of ash killed and removed from urban areas in the infested areas. If only one person puts this wood into the firewood
pathways it might be moved to many states within months. Education of firewood companies should be a top priority of APHIS and State Department of
Agricultures and Forest Services.
Mid point risk: High. If the firewood source is moved to a processing area then that area there is a high probability that infestation of surround hosts will occur.
Final location: High. Firewood is sold inside and outside of convenience, grocery, and big box stores through out the west. If infested firewood is move to an
urban community there is most likely in larger towns (> 20,000) or towns with expanding populations numerous ash since it has become a major species in new
housing and commercial developments over the last decades. If the camper firewood is moved to high elevation conifer dominated camp sites then the risk of
introduction is low since there are few hosts nearby. The potentially huge amount of firewood moving by campers is suggested by the 10 million campers that
head to National Park campgrounds each year in the west.
Invasives: High. Primarily flying insects can move easily this way. Decay fungi and canker fungi are at low risk of movement but can be moved when the
wood is taken home and it sits outside and it can get wet from irrigation or precipitation events.
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Appendix Table 17. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Small local firewood dealers
Pathway
Original Source
Mid point
Final location
Risk
Invasives
Small firewood dealers
Local dead trees
Pruning material
Tree removals
Near by state with hardwood
Dealer storage yard
Homeowner
Convenience store
Restaurant
Camp ground
high
Borers
Bark beetles
Canker fungi
Notes:
Original source Risk: Moderate. Firewood could potentially come from land clearing or tree removals in EAB infestation area. People will be trying to make
money from the large amount of ash killed and removed from urban areas in the infested areas. If only one person puts this wood into the firewood pathways it
might be moved to many states within months. Small firewood companies are probably not well informed on were quarantined areas are or what the latest exotic
pest is. Education of firewood companies should be a top priority of APHIS and State Department of Agricultures and Forest Services.
Mid point risk: High. If the firewood source is moved to a processing area then that area there is a high probability that infestation of surround hosts will occur.
We do not have any estimate of the amount of firewood being moved across state lines by small local firewood dealers. This will need to be obtained some how.
Final location: High. Firewood is usually sold by truck lots to homeowners or commercial establishment like restaurants. If the wood is kept drive the canker
and decay fungi will not move. Stain fungi moved by bark beetles can move if there are bark beetles present. Wood borers will have an easy time moving to
nearby host if the buyer is in an urban location.
Invasives: High. Primarily flying insects can move easily this way. Decay fungi and canker fungi are at low risk of movement but can be moved when the
wood is taken home and it sits outside and it can get wet from irrigation or precipitation events.
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Appendix Table 18. Detailed Pathway Risk Analysis Summary for Second home owners
Pathway
Original Source
Mid point
Final location
Risk
Invasives
Second home owner
Local forest- small dealer or self
Commercial supply
Motel
Forest
City
Lake or ocean
H
L
H
Insects and cankers etc
Notes:
Original source Risk: High. Firewood could potentially come from commercial or tree removals in EAB infestation area. People will bring firewood if it is
readily available at home and expensive or not available at their second home. I hope the education of second home owners can become another target of
education activities in the next year for APHIS and regional dept of agricultures and state forest services.
Mid point risk: Low. The firewood will probably be hauled in a pickup and moved rapidly to the second home with most likely only one over night stop since if
the second home is over 2 days away one would assume firewood would not seem like a worthwhile material to haul that far.
Final location: High. Firewood movement by second home owners to locations where host trees exist provides for high risk of a beetle or borer to move into
the surround trees. Many homes in the west are located near lakes in the Great Plains where ash might be present. In the Rocky Mt and Interior areas many
second home are in confer forests so the risk is lowered. However many mountain communities have green ash for street trees. The amount of second homes in
the west is estimated at 1.5 million so there is a good probability some one will carry firewood. Even at 0.1 percent there is 1,500 folks heading to their cabins
with firewood.
Invasives: High. Primarily flying insects can move easily this way. Decay fungi and canker fungi are at low risk of movement but can be moved when the
wood is taken home and it sits outside and it can get wet from irrigation or precipitation events.
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Nursery Stock Movement
1
4
1
2
1
1
1
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
Nursery Stock Movement to a Nursery in Colorado
24 Nurseries
17 States
Appendix Figure 1. Nursery stock movement example.
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Appendix Figure 2. Natural ash tree connections and potential movement of emerald ash borer. Arrow thickness represents the the
estimated ease of movement based on contiguous host type.
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Appendix Figure 3: Fraxinus latifolia in Oregon
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Appendix Figure 4. Map of Fraxinus velutina distribution
61
Appendix Figure 5. Map of Faxinus cuspidate distribution
62
Appendix Figure 6. Map of Faxinus anomala distribution
63
Appendix Figure 7. Map of new house data in 2006
64
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