Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010 • Sprucing up the Eagle Lake Trail, one beetle at a time

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, edition of the Lassen County Times.

There is not much a pine tree can do when faced with an incoming swarm of Western Bark Beetles, the sharp claws of bark-stripping squirrels or the destructive forces of misguided campers. Especially when that tree is growing in an overstocked stand.

Lucky for the trees, U.S. Forest Service Small Sales Officer Rickie Crowther has their back, or bark if you will. Crowther identified one such stand along a heavily used recreation trail along the south shore of Eagle Lake in 2007 and has been focused on the project ever since.

“We have been losing a lot of trees in these campgrounds,” said Crowther. “We thought we would do something more proactive and try to prevent losing any more trees.”

With the help of Forest Entomologist Danny Cluck, Crowther and his team has moved forward with a thinning project, which not only helps to combat swarms of destructive beetles from devastating the trees, but beautifies the forest adjacent to the trail by opening up incredible vistas of the lake that were previously unattainable.

“The defense the trees have against beetles is the resin (pitch),” said Cluck. “When a beetle lands on a tree it bores in through the bark. If it meets a healthy tree the resin pushes the beetle back out and that’s kind of the end of the story.

“If that resin pressure is not there, the beetle can get inside the bark. It starts creating a pheromone that attracts more beetles to the tree and we start seeing dead trees and more dead trees.”

To prevent this type of beetle activity, the forest needs to be thinned. Once thinned, sunlight becomes more abundant and soil moisture equalizes. This helps the remaining trees get back into a healthy growth cycle and gives the trees the ability to ward off beetle attacks.

Another order of business for Crowther and his team was the condition of the trail itself. A fresh chip seal coat was administered, fixing a number of cracks and uneven walking surfaces, which plagued the high-use areas. Now the 5.2-mile trail is perfect for hikers, bikers, walkers, birdwatchers and anyone with accessibility needs.

“The trail has been in desperate need of maintenance for some time,” said US Forest Service Community Liaison Heidi Perry. “We wanted to maintain the infrastructure we had previously, and we were able to do that with some American Recovery and Re-investment Act money.”

“Traditionally we have always struggled with funding for recreational sites. This project brought in funding from a non-traditional source.

“This was one of those really beautiful opportunities where we had grant funding (from the Western Bark Beetle initiative), Forest Service funding and timber sale contract money. The bottom line was to enhance the trail and save the big trees.”

Right now is a great time to check out the changing deciduous tree colors and view the migratory bird species doing their thing.

With the renewed view of the lake, you can creep up to the tree line, virtually undetected, and view everything from Sandhill Cranes to small shorebirds. Bring a set of binoculars for the best viewing.

The forest thinning is ongoing with a completion date set for the year 2012. Aspen, Eagle and West Eagle campgrounds are finished with Merrill and Christie set for a 2011 start. There will be a commercial fuel wood sale called the basin timber sale. This sale will help further offset the price tag on the thinning operation. The date of the sale is pending.