In order to preserve the beauty of Patton Township and to protect
property owners' single plantings or stands of trees from diseased
trees, it is necessary that best management practices be required
to reduce the spread of Dutch Elm Disease and Oak Wilt.
A. Dutch Elm Disease. To reduce the
spread of Dutch Elm Disease within existing American elms (Ulmus Americana)
and other species of this genus, it is necessary to reduce the breeding
sites for the two beetles (Scolytus multistriatus marshan and Hylurgopinus
rufipes eichoff) that transport the pathogen which causes Dutch Elm
Disease, i.e., Ceratostomella ulmi buisman. The major breeding sites
for these beetles are dead and dying elm trees and logs and debris
from cut elm trees.
B. Oak Wilt. To reduce the spread
of the fungal pathogen (Ceratocystis fagacearum) that causes Oak Wilt,
it is necessary to reduce the vectors for transmission by removing
infected oak trees (Quercus spp.) and by disrupting root grafts that
will transmit the fungus from infected oak trees to uninfected oak
trees. Infected trees provide sites that produce spores for the fungus
that may be carried to uninfected oak trees by insects. In addition,
it is necessary to regulate the pruning and spiking of any oak trees
which would provide sites that may be easily infected by insects.
Oak species commonly killed by Oak Wilt in the northern United States
include Black Oak (Q. velutina), Bur Oak (Q. macrocarpa), Northern
Pin Oak (Q. ellipsoidalis), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra), Chestnut
Oak (Q. montana), and White Oak (Q. alba).
The Township may or, if a resident of Patton Township provides a report in writing, shall investigate cases of failure to remove a tree or trees suspected of being infected by a pathogen specified in §
365-1. If it appears that the tree or trees are infected by a pathogen specified in §
365-1, or otherwise appear to be dying from a pathogen specified in §
365-1 or has tested positive for a pathogen specified in §
365-1, the Township shall instruct the property owner to remove, treat, and dispose of or destroy the infected tree or trees within 30 days. A property owner providing plant pathology test results, conducted in accordance with procedures recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture, showing the tree to be free from the suspected pathogen shall be relieved of the duty to remove the suspected tree.
It shall be unlawful to transport elm logs through, to, or within
Patton Township in an uncovered vehicle from May 1 to September 1
of each year.
Logs and debris from a tree or trees infected by a pathogen specified in §
365-1, shall only be stored, stockpiled, or used within Patton Township in accordance with the best practices recommended by the Pennsylvania State University, their Extension Service, or the United States Department of Agriculture (materials available upon request).