Article: How Much Wood Should Kopachuck Chuck?
Location: Kopachuck State Park, Washington State, USA
Classification: SuperPatho / OPEN WILDS
Words/Images by N.A. Napolitano
Location: Kopachuck State Park, Washington State, USA
Classification: SuperPatho / OPEN WILDS
Words/Images by N.A. Napolitano
Kopachuck
Kopachuck is a 109-acre Washington State marine park with 5,600 feet of
saltwater shoreline on Henderson Bay in the Puget Sound.1 The park
provides both sandy and rocky beaches, with a panoramic view
of sunsets, the Puget Sound and the snow-capped
Olympic Mountains. One portion of the
park, Cutts Island (“Dead Man’s Island” to the locals) is a half-mile from
shore and reachable only by boat, unless of course you’re game for a bit of
exercise, in that case you can try and swim for it.
Dead Man’s Island
Area surrounding Kopachuck State Park
History
The name "Kopachuck" originated from "Chinook Jargon," the trade language of the Pacific Coastal Indians. Kopachuck is a merging of two words: "Kopa" meaning "at," and "chuck" meaning "water." This park was once a seasonal fishing and clamming site of the Puyallup and Nisqually tribes.1 Unfortunately, the area cannot be clamed or the shellfish collected due to highly concentrated levels of marine biotoxins such as PSP, ASP, and DSP in the aquatic life… But that’s another issue. Deadman's Island derives from the belief that the island was used by saltwater tribes who buried their dead in canoes placed in the forks of trees. It is unknown how the island acquired the name "Cutts Island." Prior to its current popular names, the place was called "Crow Island," for the large quantity of crows explorer Peter Puget discovered there in 1792, and later "Scotts Island," in honor of Thomas Scott, quartermaster of the 1841 Wilkes expedition.1
Area surrounding Kopachuck State ParkHistory
The name "Kopachuck" originated from "Chinook Jargon," the trade language of the Pacific Coastal Indians. Kopachuck is a merging of two words: "Kopa" meaning "at," and "chuck" meaning "water." This park was once a seasonal fishing and clamming site of the Puyallup and Nisqually tribes.1 Unfortunately, the area cannot be clamed or the shellfish collected due to highly concentrated levels of marine biotoxins such as PSP, ASP, and DSP in the aquatic life… But that’s another issue. Deadman's Island derives from the belief that the island was used by saltwater tribes who buried their dead in canoes placed in the forks of trees. It is unknown how the island acquired the name "Cutts Island." Prior to its current popular names, the place was called "Crow Island," for the large quantity of crows explorer Peter Puget discovered there in 1792, and later "Scotts Island," in honor of Thomas Scott, quartermaster of the 1841 Wilkes expedition.1
Closed entrance to the Kopachuck State Park campground
Closure
In June of 2011 the Kopachuck campground was closed indefinitely for concerns of safety to due the discovery that a soil-borne disease called Laminated Root Rot (LLM) was attacking many of the trees growing there.2 This disease essentially rots the tree from the bottom-inside-up and the tree falls without any clinical symptons or forewarning. The closure came with the discord of local residents who have enjoyed the facility for many seasons, and I can certainly empathize with them. The campsites are spacious, nicely secluded and provide an excellent visual backdrop for recreation.
LLM is naturally occurring and endemic to coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest and is caused by two very aggressive pathogens that attack Douglas firs, grand firs and hemlocks, but not true cedar species, alder or maple trees. The pathogens that cause LLM are the fungi Phellinus weirri (pseudo-cedar form), first described in 1914 on western redcedar in Idaho,3 and Phellinus sulphurascens (fir form) originally described from the Primorsk Territory is Russia.4 Though there is some discrepancy as to how closely related these fungi are,3,5 we will consider them siblings as they both produce a similar end for wooded prey. Infected trees are difficult to identify due to the often normal appearing exterior of the trunk and crown of the tree. Making this affliction a silent killer as the roots and heartwood (duramen) of the tree rot from within, with the most severe form of infection creating a hollow cylinder up the center of the trunk, leaving them unbalanced and unstable in the soil where they stand. One particular sign to look for is if the upper portion begins to thin out.
In June of 2011 the Kopachuck campground was closed indefinitely for concerns of safety to due the discovery that a soil-borne disease called Laminated Root Rot (LLM) was attacking many of the trees growing there.2 This disease essentially rots the tree from the bottom-inside-up and the tree falls without any clinical symptons or forewarning. The closure came with the discord of local residents who have enjoyed the facility for many seasons, and I can certainly empathize with them. The campsites are spacious, nicely secluded and provide an excellent visual backdrop for recreation.
LLM is naturally occurring and endemic to coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest and is caused by two very aggressive pathogens that attack Douglas firs, grand firs and hemlocks, but not true cedar species, alder or maple trees. The pathogens that cause LLM are the fungi Phellinus weirri (pseudo-cedar form), first described in 1914 on western redcedar in Idaho,3 and Phellinus sulphurascens (fir form) originally described from the Primorsk Territory is Russia.4 Though there is some discrepancy as to how closely related these fungi are,3,5 we will consider them siblings as they both produce a similar end for wooded prey. Infected trees are difficult to identify due to the often normal appearing exterior of the trunk and crown of the tree. Making this affliction a silent killer as the roots and heartwood (duramen) of the tree rot from within, with the most severe form of infection creating a hollow cylinder up the center of the trunk, leaving them unbalanced and unstable in the soil where they stand. One particular sign to look for is if the upper portion begins to thin out.
Ultimately the tree root system and
trunk of the tree are unable to support its own weight, and the tree
commits arborvitae suicide by dropping to the forest floor, where the
fungus continues to feed on and digest the trees remains. This scenario brings the old adage
to mind If a tree falls in the forest…, the concern here though is not whether the tree makes a sound, but
rather, will you be able to wake up to get out of your tent in time to run in
the other direction? Some of the trees in this area are 175 feet high,2
when they fall the path of destruction can cover quite a distance and cause
significant damage to any humans or structures in their path.
Fallen 75ft. Douglas Fir
Root ball of Douglas Fir afflicted with laminated root rot
Over two years later, the
Kopachuck campground is still closed. It is open for day use only at your own
risk, and camping is prohibited. At this time there doesn’t seem to be any
viable strategy for healing the forest and reopening the campground at
Kopachuck. There was a discussion at the local level to either remove or leave
the diseased trees. Some trees have been removed; the local residents are
resistant to the idea of having the state remove any more.
Solutions
For planned areas of timber
growth, it is best to select those types of timber that are genetically
predisposed with resistance to LRR. For wild areas where species are already established,
other options like should be considered.
Stump removal (stumping) and push-falling can be used to reduce the presence of LLM, however, this requires the removal of large quantities of wood. When an infected area is removed, the surrounding, healthy timber must also be removed, potentially shifting the ecosystem.
Biological control agents such as Trichoderma viride have been tested but a suitable field delivery system remains to be developed. Chemical inactivation with fumigants such as chloropicrin has been demonstrated, but their use will likely be severely restricted because of current attitudes and policies about the use of pesticides in forests.3
Stump removal (stumping) and push-falling can be used to reduce the presence of LLM, however, this requires the removal of large quantities of wood. When an infected area is removed, the surrounding, healthy timber must also be removed, potentially shifting the ecosystem.
Biological control agents such as Trichoderma viride have been tested but a suitable field delivery system remains to be developed. Chemical inactivation with fumigants such as chloropicrin has been demonstrated, but their use will likely be severely restricted because of current attitudes and policies about the use of pesticides in forests.3
References
1. Park Overview Washington
State Parks http://www.parks.wa.gov/parks/?selectedpark=Kopachuck accessed March 1, 2014
2. Gig Harbor's Kopachuck State Park Campground Closure Causes Concern Charlee Glock-Jackson http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/01/gig-harbors-kopachuck-state-park-campground-closu/#ixzz2hdTqW68b accessed March 4, 2014
3. Laminated Root Rot (LRR) The causal organism, its distribution and hosts Forest Pathology http://web.archive.org/web/20070415081933/http://pfc.forestry.ca/pathology/rootd/laminated_e.html accessed March 4, 2014
4. Phellinus sulphurascens and the Closely Related P.
weirii in North America2. Gig Harbor's Kopachuck State Park Campground Closure Causes Concern Charlee Glock-Jackson http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/01/gig-harbors-kopachuck-state-park-campground-closu/#ixzz2hdTqW68b accessed March 4, 2014
3. Laminated Root Rot (LRR) The causal organism, its distribution and hosts Forest Pathology http://web.archive.org/web/20070415081933/http://pfc.forestry.ca/pathology/rootd/laminated_e.html accessed March 4, 2014
Michael J. Larsen, Francis F. Lombard and Joseph W. Clark Mycologia Vol. 86, No. 1 (Jan. - Feb., 1994), pp. 121-130 Mycological Society of America http://www.jstor.org/stable/3760727 accessed March 5, 2014
5. Management Guide for Laminated Root Rot Susan K. Hagle USDA Forest Service
11.4 WEB July 2010 Forest Health Protection and State Forestry Organizations http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5187461.pdf accessed March 1, 2014
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