Preventing the Spread of Phytophthora ramorum via Water:
Research and Coordination Workshop & Best Management Practices Meeting
Location: Allmendinger Conference Center
Washington State University
Research and Extension Center
2606 West Pioneer
Puyallup, WA 98371
Dates: June 28-30, 2011
Organized by: Gary Chastagner, Washington State University and Susan Frankel, USDA-Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station
Sponsored by: Washington State University and the California Oak Mortality Task Force
Local Arrangements: Gary Chastagner, 253-445-4528, chastag@wsu.edu and Marianne Elliott, 253-445-4596, melliott@puyallup.wsu.edu
Preventing the spread of Phytophthora ramorum via water was the focus of a two and a half day workshop attended by over 50 regulators, researchers, and industry representatives from the Western and Southeastern U.S., and Washington DC. The workshop’s mission was to coalesce research, management and regulations to develop effective, economical and environmentally acceptable ways of limiting P. ramorum spread via contaminated nursery run-off. The group visited a Gig Harbor retail nursery site where P. ramorum had leaked out of the nursery and infected riparian salal plants to review treatments and mitigations. Formal talks covered the incidence and location of P. ramorum recovery from waterways, water baiting techniques, risks and impacts for WA, and treatments to reduce the risk of spreading inoculum in water. Research and education/outreach needs identification, group exercises and discussion concentrated on nursery treatments and water management, monitoring, and notification of downstream users of contaminated water.