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nearly $6 million in grants will help selected school districts reduce energy costs, create jobs and help forests through use of wood products for heating and cooling.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s State & Private Forestry program, recently awarded almost $6 million in grants to seven public school districts for “Fuels for Schools” projects. The grants are being funded through The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“Fuels for Schools funds will help these schools and school districts install and operate boiler systems that use woody biomass from local public and private forest land to heat and/or cool their facilities,” explained grant administrator John Tuttle, forestry field programs supervisor for

Seven Missouri Schools Receive Fuels for Schools GrantsJoe Jerek , News Services Coordinator, Missouri Department of Conservation

spring 2010

inside issue:this

2 End for Black Walnut?

3 Featured Species

Treevia

Q&A

4 Welcome: New Members

Spring Activity: Backyard Camping

5 Managing Glades

7 Tree Hunt Photos

8 Mark Your Calendar

Spring Reporting Deadline

the MDC. “Missourians care about conserving our forests, fish and wildlife. This technology will help these schools reduce dependence on fossil fuels, reduce energy costs, create or retain local jobs and support healthy forests and the state’s forest industry.”

Tuttle noted that conservation pays by enriching our economy and quality of life. He gave the example of Missouri’s forest products industry, which generates more than $5 billion in eco-nomic activity each year and supports more than 30,000 jobs.

“The Fuels for Schools projects will help create a stronger market for woody material historically considered waste, such as unhealthy or small-diameter trees and wood debris left from logging,” Tuttle added. “These forest products currently have little or no commercial value so the Fuels for Schools projects can provide micro-markets for wood chips produced from them.”

Tuttle explained that the projects also will support forest health, a key part of the MDC’s mission, by making it economical to thin overcrowded forest stands and remove diseased and insect-infested trees.

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grant recipients and amounts are:

Southern Reynolds County R-II School District $970,000

Perry County 32 School District $970,000

Steelville R-III School District $900,000 Crawford County

Rolla 31 School District Junior High Building $760,000 Phelps County

Gainesville R-V School District $970,000 Ozark County

Eminence R-I Elementary $350,000 Shannon County

Mountain View-Birch Tree Liberty High School $850,000 Howell County

within the past decade an unusual decline of black walnut (Juglans nigra) has been observed in several western states. Initial symptoms involve yellowing and thinning of the tree’s upper crown, which then progresses to death of larger branches.

Trees often die within three years after initial symptoms are noted. The mortality is the result of attack by the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis) and subsequent canker develop-ment around the areas where the beetles have tunneled. Alone, the beetle will stress trees but not cause mortality. However, the beetle carries with it the spores of the Geosmithia fungus which causes a canker in the tree every place the tiny beetle either probes or bores into the wood. Literally thousands of cankers can form in a single tree, hence the name —Thousand Canker Disease of Walnut. The fungal cankers coalesce and eventually kill the tree.

Researchers say that it takes about eight years from initial infection until the tree begins to show signs of decline. However, once the symptoms are visible, the tree has about two years until it will die. Of all of the Juglans species, black walnut is by far the most susceptible to this pest complex.

Currently, thousand cankers disease is known to be present in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah.

A national task force has been formed to study the situation, which is currently restricted to the western U.S. No states in the natural range of eastern black walnut are currently known to be

mission:To develop a network

of informed citizens working to conserve, sustain and

enhance Missouri’s urban and rural forest resources through

volunteerism, advocacy, and management.

editor:Donna Coble

technical editor:Justine Gartner

assistant editor:Elizabeth Koch

design:501creative, inc.

illustrations:Courtesy of the

Missouri Department of Conservation

The Missouri Forestkeepers Network is a

statewide volunteer program administered by Forest ReLeaf of Missouri in

partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Membership is free.

for information, contact:Forest ReLeaf of Missouri

4207 Lindell Blvd. Suite 301

St. Louis, MO 63108

toll-free: 1-888-9-FOREST (1-888-936-7378)

[email protected] www.forestkeepers.org

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The End for Black Walnut?Adapted from Pest Alert: Walnut Twig Beetle and Thousand Cankers Disease of Black Walnut by Colorado State University

affected. The national task force is drafting a national response plan so there will be a stream-lined, unified response to this devastating pest before it spreads to the native range of black walnut. Researchers are developing survey tools for the beetle, as well as potential treatments to safeguard walnut wood before it is exported to

other areas of the country. State regulatory officials in the central states are currently collaborating on a unified regulatory response to prevent the movement of

infested wood from the west to the native range of black walnut in the Midwest and Eastern states.

Controls for thousand cankers disease have not yet been identi-fied and their development will require better understanding of the biology of the walnut twig beetle and the canker producing

Geosmithia. Due to the extended period when adult beetles are active, the effectiveness of insecticide spray applications will be limited. Furthermore, colonization of the bark and cambium by Geosmithia may continue even if adult beetles or larvae are killed by the insecticide. This will likely limit the availability of systemic

insecticides to control transmis-sion of the fungus to new hosts before substantial infection occurs. Rapid detection and removal of infect trees currently remains the primarily means of managing thousand cankers disease.

For more information on thousand cankers disease, go to: http://mda.mo.gov/plants/pests/thousandcankers.php. If, after careful review of the information on this website, you still have concerns about your black walnut tree, contact the Office of the State Entomologist at the Missouri Department of Agriculture at 573-751-5505.

missouri forestkeepers monitor – spring 2010 page �

Walnut Twig Beetle Pityphthorus juglandis

the fragrant, frond-like leaves of the black walnut are among the first to turn in fall and the last to leaf out in spring. The black walnut can reach ninety feet tall and is often found in stands and apart from other trees. As autumn sets in, the leaves of the black walnut turn a vibrant yellow and the green, globe-shaped nuts darken and drop to the ground. If you have ever collected walnuts you know that the husks can easily stain your hands and clothing. Early settlers made use of this property and produced walnut dye and ink. The black walnut’s beautiful wood grain, and strong, straight timber led the walnut to be cultivated as early as 1686. The wood is used for cabinets, interior finishing and veneer. The black walnut is also prized for its delicious, edible nut.

leaves: A 12–24” long stem with 12 to 23 spiky alternating leaflets.

On June 20, 1955, the flowering dogwood — cornus Florida L. — became Missouri’s official tree.

page � missouri forestkeepers monitor – spring 2010

black walnutfeatured species:

fun forest facts to know and tell!

TreeviaJuglans nigra L.

Q: Why are some of the plants in my garden doing poorly?

A: Consider which trees are planted in close proximity to your garden. For example, the black walnut releases juglone, a chemical which inhibits the growth of many other plants within the trees rooting zone. Juglone does not travel far from the roots, however, so a backyard garden can still flourish in the vicinity of a black walnut. Lima beans, beets, corn, onions, and parsnips are all tolerant of juglone. Planting your garden in raised beds can minimize the allelopathic effect of the black walnut on neighboring plants.

Have a question about Forestkeepers, trees, or what you read in this issue? Contact us at information @forestkeepers.org or by mail to: Q&A, c/o Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, 4207 Lindell Blvd., Suite 301, St. Louis, MO 63108.

bark: A diamond-shaped pattern, dark brown to grayish black.

fruit: The outer husk is thick and difficult to open. Walnuts are a valuable source of omega-3 fatty acids and are delicious served plain or toasted on salads.

habitat & range: Black walnuts grow throughout Missouri but are most prevalent in counties that border the Mississippi River and in the southwestern corner of the state. They prefer moist soils and are often found in valleys along streams or in open pastures.

notes: The wood of the black walnut shrinks and swells less than any other lumber, making it an exceptional wood for flooring, cabinets and other fine woodwork-ing projects.

Compiled from Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A. Dirr and Trees of Missouri by Don Kurz, and the Missouri Department of Conservation Online Library.

Illustrations courtesy of the Missouri Department of Conservation

missouri forestkeepers monitor – spring 2010 page �

Welcome New MembersWe would like to welcome the following new members to the Missouri Forestkeepers Network:

Solomon Akinduro

Joe Bindbeutel

Ralph Blumer

Tom Bunch

Fernando & Isabela Carlos

Timothy Croom

Garrett Dixon

The Evans Family

The Fogle Family

Roger W. Gilbert

Rick Heitman

Gary Holst

B. Janes

Jordan Jennings

Joey Los

Dell Rita Marion

Mike & Susan Muzzey

Phillip, Connie & Nicolas Pace

William Quillin

Kevin Roberts

Bob Scheidt

John Schroeder

Mort Shurtz

Jeff Seidl

R. Warren Sims

Connie J. Smith

Darryl Stines

Truman Outdoor Kids Club

Jeff Wilson

The Zimmermann Family

Spring ActivityA seasonal project to enjoy with the whole family

Backyard Camping

Do you know someone who might be interested in

becoming a Forestkeeper? Call 1-888-9-FOREST or visit

www.forestkeepers.org for details on joining our Network of over 2,000

citizens who are working to conserve, sustain, and

enhance Missouri’s urban and rural forest resources.

He added that the projects also can serve as examples to other schools, businesses and government agencies interested in wood-fueled energy systems.

Tuttle said that similar efforts in other states have proved successful. Missouri’s projects will be based on the Fuels for Schools and Beyond program. This partnership between the USDA Forest Service and several western states promotes the use of forest biomass waste for heating, cooling and power in public and private buildings. According to the Fuels for Schools and Beyond website (www.fuelsforschools.info), fuel cost savings for projects that have replaced natural gas boiler systems have averaged 25 percent while facilities replacing fuel oil systems have enjoyed savings of 50-75 percent.

The MDC mailed grant solicitations to public schools in the state’s most heavily forested counties: Barry, Bollinger, Butler,

Carter, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Howell, Iron, Madison, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, Stone, Taney, Texas, Washington, Wayne and Wright.

A multi-agency selection committee reviewed grant applications. Committee partners are MDC, USDA Forest Service/Mark Twain National Forest, Top of the Ozarks Resource Conservation and Development Council, Big Springs Resource Conservation and Development Council, Missouri Department of Natural Resources Energy Division, Missouri Forest Products Association and the University of Missouri Extension -Forestry.

The committee selected grant recipients based on economic needs, dependence on the forest products industry, project feasibility and the ability to implement the project quickly, proximity to public and private forestland and partnerships with other public entities that could benefit from the biomass energy system.

Seven Missouri Schools Receive Fuels for Schools Grants continued from page 1

celebrate warm days and cool nights this spring with a family campout in the backyard! All you need is some equipment, food and a sense of adventure. A little advance planning will ensure everyone has a good time on this “vacation.” Things you will need include:

Tent(s) and ground cover

Sleeping bags, pillows

Flashlights, camping lanterns

Insect repellent

Fire pit or BBQ grill

Food and cooking utensils

Games or crafts

Backyard Camping is a great opportunity for kids to learn outdoor skills such as pitching a tent and building a fire. Plan a simple menu and involve the family in

preparation and cooking. If you have a fire pit, have the kids gather tinder and kindling for your fire early in the day and let them assist with building the fire in the evening.

Remember that no campout is complete without s’mores so be sure to have on hand plenty of graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows!

a glade in the strict technical sense is an opening in the forest. However, from an ecological perspective, glades are much more than just forest openings. They are typically areas where the underlying bedrock comes to the surface or near the surface, and there are often large areas of exposed rock.

These open, rocky barren areas are dominated by drought-adapted forbs, grasses and other plants. They appear as small or large essentially treeless openings within a landscape that is primarily dominated by woodlands. A woodland is a plant community with trees spaced to form an open canopy with a dense ground cover of sun-loving plants, including grasses. It is often difficult to discern a glade as eastern redcedar and other plants sometimes take over, edging out the typical plants found on a high quality glade.

Glades are commonly located on western or southern exposures or on the high summits of ridges, knobs and domes where soils are thin and moisture conditions favor drought-tolerant species. There are five types of glade communities

Adapted from The Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri by Paul W. Nelson

this information is brought to you by the missouri department of conservationc

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Managing Glades for Fun and Habitatin Missouri. Each is based on the underlying rock. The five glade natural communities are:

Limestone glade

Dolomite glade

Chert glade

Sandstone glade

Igneous glade

Each glade type is a bit different in the plant and animal mix that can be found. For a complete description of each natural community type please refer to The Terrestrial Natural Communities of Missouri by Paul W. Nelson.

glade animals

A few Missouri animals are well adapted to living on glades. The plants and animals associated with a glade are able to survive through avoidance or tolerance of intense radiation, high temperatures and soil moisture deficits. The eastern collared lizard and the greater roadrunner persist on some of the largest Missouri glades. Other glade associated amphibians and reptiles include the red milk snake, western pygmy rattle snake, the eastern narrow-

mouthed toad, and the eastern coachwhip.

Birds abound on these dry sites. Look for painted buntings, brown thrashers

and the rare Bachman’s sparrow. The Texas mouse is the only

mammal restricted to glades in Missouri. The dry sites

also attract Texas brown tarantulas

and striped bark scorpions. The

Eastern Collared Lizard

Ozark swallowtail butterfly can also be found on Ozark glades.

threats to glades

The majority of Missouri’s estimated 400,000 acres of glades are substantially degraded. Decades of overgrazing have eroded the shallow, fragile original soil layers. Overgrazing has decreased the number and diversity of species and has caused changes in plants and animals. The exclusion of fire has also played a role in the decline of glade habitat. Frequent, low-intensity fires shaped Missouri grassy glades and open woodlands. Fires likely occurred every three years prior to European settlement, but recent fire exclusion has led to dense second-growth forests and cedar thickets on former glades.

Exotic species like sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) and tall fescue (F. arundinacea) threaten glade communities. These introduced plants edge out desirable plants like Missouri bladderpod, prairie dropseed, Great Plains lady tresses, and purple penstemon. In addition, homebuilders and developers often destroy glades, preferring ridge tops for the panoramic view they provide.

protection and management

As a private landowner, what should you do if you suspect you have a glade on your property? The first thing to do is contact a qualified botanist or forester. It takes a trained eye and experience to identify rare plants that might be growing in these unique areas. Once a professional has looked at the site your management options can vary depending on the type of glade.

Management may include the following:

Use prescribed fire as a management tool to remove leaves, dead grass, and accumulated organic matter and to set back woody species. A prescribed fire is useful when conducted at the right time and at the

Managing Glades for Fun and Habitatcontinued from page 5

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previous technical bulletins:  #1 Our Upland Oak- 

Hickory Forests

  #2 Bottomland Forests

  #3 Missouri’s Coniferous Forests

  #4 Urban Forests and Plantations

  #5 The Gypsy Moth

  #6 Dogwood Anthracnose

  #7 The Japanese Beetle in Missouri

  #8 Butternut Canker and  Its Dwindling Host

  #9 Asian Longhorned Beetle

#10 Chip Mills in Missouri

#11 Community Forestry

#12 Proper Pruning

#13 How to Hire an Arborist

#14 Can These Trees Be Saved?

#15 Maintenance of Backyard Trees

#16 Selecting Professional Tree Care

#17 Tree Protection During Construction

#18 Poison Ivy

#19 Tick-Borne Diseases

#20 Chiggers

#21 Snakes of Missouri

#22 Managing Your Forest

#23 Are You Protecting  Missouri’s Water?

#24 Selling Timber the Smart Way

#25 Timber Stand Improvement

#26 Benefits of Livestock Fencing

#27 Edge Feathering

#28 Managing for White-Tailed Deer

#29 Turkeys & Woodlands

#30 Underutilized Trees for  Missouri Landscapes

#31 Managing Your Yard for  Trees and Grass

#32 Windbreaks: Protection  That Grows

#33 Evergreens: Selections for  Your Landscape

#34 Specialty Products

#35 Heating with Wood

#36 Utilizing Eastern Red Cedar

#37 Black Walnut: Missouri’s  Most Valuable Tree

#38 Those Pesky Insects

#39 Diseases and Healthy Forests

#40 I Hurt My Tree?

#41 Exotic Forest Pests Are Becoming A Common Threat

#42 Trees Pay Us Back

#43 How Is Your Habitat?

#44 Who Owns Missouri’s Forests?

#45 Managing Invasive Plants

#46 Understanding Missouri Streams

#47 Simple Trail Construction  for Landowners

#48 Wildlife—A Nuisance?

#49 What Happens to the Family Forest When You are Gone?

You can access these bulletins online at www.forestkeepers.org by clicking on “Newsletters” on the homepage.

appropriate intervals. Prescribed fires are best conducted while fescue and other weedy grasses are green and photosynthesizing, but not so late that desirable seeds have germinated. Work with your forester to determine the best time to burn.

Graze livestock in a manner that promotes desirable plants but does not promote fescue and weedy grasses. However, conversion of prairie grasslands to cool season grasses and the encroach-ment of highly invasive grasses like cheat grass has caused habitat loss.

Control introduced grasses like fescue and weedy grasses such as cheat grass. Established fescue and cheat grass threaten desirable plant populations at some sites. Fall applications of Round-Up™, followed by prescribed fire, provide control. August is a good month to spray, especially after the native flora is dormant. Because soil disturbance may stimulate fescue seed germination, annual treatments may be necessary until the fescue is eradicated.

Reduce encroachment of woody vegetation. Glades overgrown with cedars shade out the ground flora, including Missouri bladderpod. If the glade is being invaded by cedars and other woody species, cut and remove the woody vegetation. Cedar stumps will not resprout, but other species should be treated with herbicide. The objective is not to remove all trees, as oaks and other native species are part of the glade community, but to greatly reduce highly invasive woody species which compete with desirable plants.

Herbicide Note –The timing of herbicide application is critical. Herbicides should never be applied after seed germination; apply an herbicide after plants complete their annual growth. For more information about timing herbicide application, please contact the Missouri Department of Conservation or the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

An active management program is critical to restore and/or maintain Missouri’s glade natural communities.

missouri forestkeepers monitor – spring 2010 page �

page � missouri forestkeepers monitor – spring 2010

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5th Annual Hunt for Strange & Extraordinary Trees Thanks to all the members who participated in this year’s tree hunt! You “caught” some truly strange and extraordinary trees. Here is a sampling from this year’s hunt. Visit www.forestkeepers.org to view the complete gallery of images.

1. Tom Dent Three stems are better than one

2. Bob Perry If at first you don’t succeed

3. Bill Roberts ; )

4. Connie Smith Appearances can be deceiving

5. Bob Bader How low can you go?

6. Jeff Comparato Ol’ Flat Top

7. Karen Kilcullen Uncle!

8. Angela Belden Get in my belly!

9. Ethan Hirsh Yum

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDSt. Louis, MO

Permit No. 3900

missouri forestkeepers monitor – spring 2010 page �

c/o Forest ReLeaf of Missouri

4207 Lindell Blvd., Suite 301

St. Louis, MO 63108

Return Service Requested

Reminder: Spring Reporting DeadlineSpring is a great time to conduct Forestkeepers activities. If you are not sure where to start and have never submitted a report, contact us at [email protected] and we can supply you with a copy of the brochure, “Now That I’m a Forestkeeper, What’s Next?”

If you send your activity report by June 15, you can select from one of the great incentives we offer members as our way of saying thank you for reporting back. You can view these incentives on the website, where you can also download report and observation forms.

Mark Your Calendar!Upcoming 2010 Workshops & EventsIntroductory Workshop Blue Springs – May 22

Annual Forestkeepers Conference Springfield – Early August

Watch your mailbox, check the website at www.forestkeepers.org, or call 1-888-9-FOREST for more information on these free events.