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No More Fir Trees? That's Right

by littlebird (Subscribe)

Posted on: Nov 7, 2009 at 3:35 PM PST

Channel: On the Scene

Location: Taken from Clear Lake Lokout Tower near Mt Hood

This is shocking and terrible news for Oregon.
I took this video on 11/03/09. It shows yellow evergreen trees which are dead. They have all died in the last year. When they are dead long enough they turn orange as most Oregonians know. These are still yellow. It almost appears to be beautiful fall colors. It is dead fir trees by Mt Hood. This is right by Timothy Lake. The video was taken from Clear Lake Lookout Tower. Some areas are devastated. All areas are infected. What a terrible fire hazard this will create as well as erosion and flooding. Enjoy it while you can because it won't be here tomorrow. The devastation is shocking but also the fact that no one knows about it is also shocking. What will happen to the fish? You can't replant fir trees, even young trees get infected. The water temperature the mud in the spawning grounds the flooding potential. Oregon better start saving for a rainy day. A rainy and very muddy day.

Mike says ...

On Saturday, Nov 7 at 4:45 PM

Commenter

Wow, I wonder what disease is. This looks HUGE!

littlebird says ...

On Sunday, Nov 8 at 5:33 AM

Commenter

I believe this is the Bark Beetle. Remember this damage was done in only one year. I was there last year and there were no dead trees. The camera did not capture the dead trees on the far hillside refered to in the movie. Most of the hillside is dead

htgdude says ...

On Sunday, Nov 8 at 7:53 AM

Commenter

I live minutes away from the east side of Mt. Hood. The trees you are showing from the road shot are Tamarack trees. They turn yellow and loose their needles each year late October to mid November.

htgdude says ...

On Sunday, Nov 8 at 7:57 AM

Commenter

Tamarack trees are the only ones that loose their needles each year. Their could be some beetle kill trees in the longshot video but I believe most shown are Tamarack. Fir trees turn a dark orange when dying.

htgdude says ...

On Sunday, Nov 8 at 7:58 AM

Commenter

There are several hillsides in this area that do look like your video but they are predominately Tamarack trees.

littlebird says ...

On Sunday, Nov 8 at 9:13 AM

Commenter

I stand corrected but it looks like I an unable to edit my description. So here is a new description for the video: Look at the beautiful Tammarack trees! Thanks again htgdude. I feel much better now.

SeS says ...

On Sunday, Nov 8 at 12:18 PM

Commenter

Hey Littlebird, you've got a good attitude! Love your last post. But there is a lot of bark beetle death going on in ou forests, so you're not completely off base. I wish more coverage would occur on the subject.

hopmah says ...

On Sunday, Nov 8 at 4:28 PM

Commenter

Most of the diseases affecting forests in the US are caused or amplified by the impacts of man. Man cut the trees, eliminated diversity and introduced disease, noxious weeds and disrupted the natural defenses of a healthy forest system.

SkF says ...

On Monday, Nov 9 at 1:13 PM

Commenter

So it seems that the real disease is MAN!!! Get ready, God is coming back to set things straight SOON!

PJ says ...

On Monday, Nov 9 at 2:31 PM

Commenter

GOD? Who the F is that? Oh you're talking about that novel called " The Bible".. yeah it was a decent read...

Decent read... says ...

On Monday, Nov 16 at 5:00 PM

Commenter

It's a decent read, if you're brain dead. Much like this site.

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