A group of congressional staffers, including Doug Crandell on the House Forest & Forest Health Subcommittee, begin to gather for presentations on Southern Pine Beetle.

Doug Morris, Superintendent of the Shenandoah National Park, welcomes participants.

Doug Morris captivates his audience with unknown facts about the Shenandoah National Park.

John Nowak, USDA Forest Service, is showing evidence of Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) infestations and how they adversely affect most pine species throughout their natural ranges.

DID YOU KNOW….

• SPB is the most aggressive and destructive of the pine beetles.

Tim Tigner, Virginia Department of Forestry, discussing the impact of Southern Pine Beetles to nearly all southern ecosystems.

Lisa Jamison, National Park Service, is giving a lively explanation of how invasive plants such as Japanese Knotweed, Tree-of-Heaven, and Oriental Bittersweet have dominated the composition.

Lisa Jamison engages the group with questions and answers about invasive plants.

DID YOU KNOW….

• Introduction of invasive plants to natural ecosystems has increased dramatically.

John Nowak, USDA Forest Service, shows tree mortality rate caused by the European Gypsy Moth at the Shenandoah Nat’l Park Pinnacles Overlook.

DID YOU KNOW….

• European Gypsy Moth caused tree mortality rates of over 20% throughout the east coast.

Rolf Gubler, National Park Service, continues the discussion on this popular defoliating insect, European Gypsy Moth, which typically leads to tree mortality.

Steve Oak, USDA Forest Service, gives the group a history lesson on oak decline caused by the American Chestnut.

DID YOU KNOW….

• Chestnut blight fungus was introduced to North America early in this century, and by the early 1930’s had infected nearly all of the chestnut in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Gordon Olson, Shenandoah National Park, explains how the Ozone, which is an important component of the atmosphere, is causing plant injury and affecting forest health.

Congressional staffers, Forest Service employees, and cooperators convene to see poster displays. This forum provided another opportunity for staffers to ask specific questions about the Forest Service’s role in restoring and rehabilitating forest and rangeland ecosystems.

The group is preparing for a 1.3 mile walk on the Shenandoah National Forest Limberlost Trail to see Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). Everyone is wearing a hard hat as a safety precaution.

James “Rusty” Rhea, USDA Forest Service, & Rolf Gubler, Shenandoah NPS, lead the trail by showing the group where the damages occurred. The group is also observing the devastation to Hemlock groves caused by the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.

Steve Oak, USDA Forest Service, ends the field trip with updates on Sudden Oak Death. Specifically, how it affects ecosystem functions, increase fire and safety hazards, and reduces property values.

DID YOU KNOW….

• The initial outbreak occurred in the urban wildland interface of central, costal California, where over 7 million people live.

Naomi Martinez, HACU InternNaomi Martinez, HACU Intern

Ellita Harrington, USDA Forest ServiceEllita Harrington, USDA Forest Service

John Nowak, USDA Forest ServiceJohn Nowak, USDA Forest Service

Paul Merten, USDA Forest ServicePaul Merten, USDA Forest Service

Jesus Cota, USDA Forest ServiceJesus Cota, USDA Forest Service

Robert Mangold, USDA Forest ServiceRobert Mangold, USDA Forest Service

Congressional Tour CommitteeCongressional Tour Committee(left to right)(left to right)