Help prevent the spread of Oak Wilt in Barton Hills

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Proper pruning
DO NOT PRUNE OAKS during February through June (carrier beetle peak activity season)
Sterilize tools with bleach or alcohol (Clorox, Lysol, etc.)
Employ certified arborists and their firms (avoid scam artists)

Proper wound treatment
Immediately paint wounds with pruning paint or latex paint
Carrier beetles may be attracted within 15 minutes to untreated cuts or wounds

Proper firewood usage
Select well seasoned firewood (unseasoned wood might be contaminated)
Select Oak Wilt free firewood (no fungal mat contamination)

Monitor utility easement clearing activities
Review project with city project manager
Inspect actual work for equipment sterilization and wound treatment

Plant trees other than Live Oaks or Red Oaks
(see “Trees of Central Texas” recommendation listing)

CONTAINMENT TECHNIQUES

Trenching
Digging trench to bed rock
These are major neighborhood projects costing about $100,000 each

Infected tree injection
Recommend contracting with a Texas Oak Wilt Certified Arborist (TOWC arborist)
See http://www.texasoakwilt.org/Vendors/certified_vendor.asp
Recommend “macro injection”

Infected tree removal
Recommend contracting a Certified Arborist or Board Certified Master Arborist
Red Oaks must be quickly removed to prevent fungal mat risk (Austin City Ordinance)

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES and CONTACTS

http://www.texasoakwilt.org (all your Oak Wilt questions)
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/oakwilt/ (City of Austin Oak Wilt Suppression Program)
http://www.treesaregood.com/ (general)
http://www.isa-arbor.com/findArborist/findarborist.aspx (area arborists)
http://www.texasoakwilt.org/Vendors/certified_vendor.asp (Texas Oak Wilt Certified Arborists)
http://texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/ (tree selection guide)

Oak Wilt Information Line (Texas Forest Service and LCRA) 512 473-3517
City of Austin, Chris Dolan 512 974-1881
Texas Staff Forester, Eric Beckers 512 339-3772
Texas Staff Forester, Jim Houser 512 339-4589

Greenbelt Guardian Workday, Saturday, Feb. 9, Gus Fruh and Homedale Trails

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The Greenbelt Guardians are planning another work day on the Barton Creek greenbelt on Saturday, February 9, from 9:00 ­ 1:00. We will be working on two different trails: Gus Fruh trail, at 2642 Barton Hills Drive, and Homedale trail, at 2010 Homedale Drive.

For those interested in trail repair and maintenance, please come help at the Gus Fruh trail. We will be resurfacing eroded portions of the switchback trail with a new, longer-lasting surface consisting of granite mixed with a polymer hardening agent. We will need lots of strong hands and backs to haul the materials down the trail and spread, grade, and pack it. We anticipate this new surface will last many years without rutting or eroding. Come prepared with work shoes and gloves, and if you have a wheelbarrow to share, we need extra ones. Otherwise, we provide all of the work tools.

For those interested in invasive species removal and revegetation planting and seeding, we need your help at the Homedale trail. We will also be removing some old barbed wire fencing that snakes through our newly Ligustrum-cleared area. The wire is a remnant of Texas ranch history, there so long that it is growing through the middle of a large tree. Bring your work gloves and wear work shoes for scrambling in vine-tangled areas. We will provide all of the other tools and supplies.

Please RSVP so we can be properly prepared. When you RSVP, indicate which trail you want to work on. There will be sign-in tables at both trail heads, and team leaders to provide guidance. Let’s all think “clear and sunny” for the work day! IF we have a rainy, cold day on February 9, our back-up work day will be Saturday, February 16. We look forward to working with you.

Glee Ingram
Greenbelt Guardian Coordinator
gleeful@earthlink.net

BHNA Jan. 22 Meeting Agenda

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Tuesday, January 22, 2008, 7:00 PM 

(Dinner at 6:00 PM)
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 
(Corner of Barton Hills Dr. and Barton Skyway)

Meeting Agenda

  • Welcome
  • Introduction of Executive Committee
  • Approval of Minutes
  • Treasurer’s Report
  • Greenbelt Guardians
  • Park Patrol
  • Candidates for office
  • 2008 Parade Coordinator
  • Open forum
  • Motion to adjourn

We extend a warm invitation for all in Barton Hills to join us on January 22 at 6:00 pm for our Social/Dinner hour. We can promise plenty of good food and a terrific opportunity to catch up with your neighbors.

Please remember: we order food based on attendance expectations so once the food is gone, it’s gone, so try to arrive as close to 6:00 pm as possible. Dinner is only $6.00 per person, which covers hot pizza, pasta or green salad, dessert and a drink. This menu is subject to change if our friends at Rockin’ Tomato have something new they would like to share, but it will always be fantastic.

The Barton Hills Neighborhood Association social hour is a wonderful time to enjoy great food, meet new neighbors and catch up on the local buzz. We look forward to seeing you on January 22 at 6:00 pm!