Redding, CA, June 13, 2024—The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is taking action to combat a new outbreak of Port-Orford-cedar root disease (POCRD) in the Twin Arrows area. The disease, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora lateralis (PL), is considered the most serious threat to Port-Orford-cedar (POC), a species native to a limited area along the Pacific Coast from Coos Bay, Oregon, to the Mad River north of Arcata, California.
The Shasta-Trinity National Forest contains approximately 1,200 acres of POC, which plays a significant ecological role in certain forest communities. POCRD can spread rapidly via water and soil, with infested soil transported on tires and footwear being the most common means of spread. The disease can kill up to ninety percent of the hosts on newly infested high-risk sites.
