Forest Health in the Kamloops TSA

At present, we are dealing with a massive epidemic of the Mountain Pine Beetle. An UPLIFT has been approved and the "allowable annual cut " for the Kamloops TSA has been temporarily increased by 1.7 million- from 2,677,900 to 4,352,770 cubic metres, due to the 2003 wildfires and the mountain pine beetle epidemic. Announcement/ Rationale.

NEW: KAMLOOPS TSA MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE STRATEGY 2007

KAMLOOPS TSA MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE STRATEGY 2006

Maps

Links for Forest Health and Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB)

• 2005 MPB Vanderhoof Watershed

• BC MOFR: Forest Health /Bark Beetles / Intro to Forest Health

• USA: USDA Forest Service Insect and Disease Web Site/
  Blue Mountain Natural Resources Institute

• Canadian Forest Service: Pacific Forestry Centre/ MPB info / Herbarium

KAMLOOPS INFORMATION

2003

• Mountain Pine Beetle in the Kamloops District
  Powerpoint Presentation to LRUP Jan 2003
• Over 18,000 ha's of forest affected by beetle.
• Animated map of MPB infestations over time from 1959 to present

2002

• DKA Map of Mountain Pine Beetle infestations & Licensee Operating Areas
• BC Map of Mountain Pine Beetle infestations (PDF)

2001:

• Aerial overview Kamloops Region 2001

2000

• Mountain Pine Beetle infestations covered 5,070 ha, a decrease from 11,275 ha in 1999. Significant expansions were observed in the Red Lake and Opax Mountain areas, with smaller increases in several areas west of Kamloops, in Arrowstone Creek, Maiden Creek, Two Spring Creek, and Hat Creek. Ongoing infestations in Louis Creek, Georges Creek, and on Red Plateau decreased significantly in overall area this year.
• Western balsam bark beetle caused significant mortality on 2,730 ha, mostly on the Thompson Plateau southeast of Bonaparte Lake.
• Western spruce budworm was observed again, after being absent from the district for a year. Defoliation occurred on 1,460 ha in the Hat Creek – Gallagher Lakes area.
• Pine needle cast defoliated 1,460 ha of lodgepole pine west of Tunkwa Lake.
• Other forest health factors observed included small scattered areas of Douglas-fir beetle, satin moth, wildfire, and windthrow

1999

Mountain Pine Beetle: Massive outbreak in the Kamloops District: This sudden expansion can be attributed to environmental conditions that resulted in low overwintering mortality for two consecutive winters and drought stress in 1998. 1999 Kamloops Region Overview Flight Report : "MouNtain Pine Beetle infested over 11,200 hectares in the Kamloops District in 1999, an increase from 2790 hectares in 1998. Major expansions were observed in the Red Lake Plateau areas, Opax Mountain, Pass Lake, west of Barriere in Fishtrap Creek and Peterson Creek areas, northwest of Monte Lake and in several areas near Cache Creek. Infestations also continued in the Louis Creek-Heffley Lake areas, Pinantan Lake, and Paxton Valley."