Sautee Nacoochee Center Hemlock Project wins Outstanding New Initiative Award

SAUTEE-NACOOCHEE - The Georgia Urban Forest Council has awarded its Outstanding New Initiative Award to the Save the Hemlocks Project at SNCA (Sautee-Nacoochee Community Association). <br /> <br /> According to the project director, Ted Doll, this project has made tools available to homeowners across north Georgia and enabled them to save hundreds of hemlocks. A part of the SNCA's Environmental Program, this project was one of the first to offer homeowners in our area a way to save their hemlocks.<br /> <br /> Hemlocks have been killed up and down the Appalachian Mountain chain from Pennsylvania through Georgia. The insect responsible is called the woolly adelgid. The adelgid is a type of aphid that forms white, woolly sacks on the needles of infested hemlocks in the colder months of the year. Once a hemlock is infested, it usually dies within two to three years if not treated.<br /> <br /> The SNCA project involved the purchase of insecticide and a soil injector, which was rented out for community use. An important part of the effort was homeowner education on the woolly adelgid threat and practical knowledge on how to combat it. For the education component, the help of local experts was especially important. <br /> <br /> Jim Sullivan, a Forest Health Program Contractor with the Georgia Forestry Commission, and Michael Harris, retired White County Extension Agent, were particularly instrumental in teaching workshops for homeowners. These workshops were offered at SNCA in the months of January in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Sullivan reviewed the natural history of hemlocks and the adelgid, and discussed the progression of this parasite and how to recognize it. Harris discussed alternative treatments available, where to get the required materials and tools and their cost. Mark and Donna Shearer of Save Georgia's Hemlocks (www.savegeorgiashemlocks.org) were helpful in providing sources for the purchase of the insecticide. <br /> <br /> It is hoped that biological controls will eventually be developed to keep the woolly adelgid in check. One approach that has been pursued is the development of predatory beetles, which feed on the adelgid. Such beetles occur naturally in parts of Asia and the northwestern United States. With the help of Georgia ForestWatch (www.gafw.org),a laboratory was established at the University of Georgia (UGA) to breed several types of beetles and release them among infested hemlocks on an experimental basis in the National Forests. A consortium of laboratories is now participating in this effort at four universities --Clemson, Young Harris College, North Georgia College and State University and UGA.<br /> <br /> Unfortunately, it may be many years before biological controls to save hemlocks are proven effective and made available to homeowners. In the interim, hemlocks can be saved by using insecticide delivered through soil injection. The soil injection approach minimizes the spread of the insecticide and any possible detrimental impacts on the environment.<br /> <br /> For information on saving hemlocks, homeowners can call Ted Doll at 706-878-2526 or Mark or Donna Shearer at 706-429-8010.

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