The City of Boerne hosted a workshop Nov. 16 to provide information about oak wilt and what resources are available for treatment and prevention.
The Oak Wilt Management Workshop, co-hosted by the Texas A&M Forest Service and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, was held at the public library in Boerne with more than 60 people in attendance.
Ryan Bass, an environmental planner and urban forester with the City of Boerne, kicked off the workshop with a breakdown of oak wilt distribution in the Boerne city limits and an overview of the City’s new Oak Wilt Management Incentive Program. Click here to download his presentation.
The City of Boerne’s Oak Wilt Management Incentive Program, approved by City Council for the new budget, is a $50,000 fund available to Boerne residents for assistance with tree removal and treatment due to oak wilt.
“The goal of the incentive program is to stop the spread of oak wilt by helping residents treat the trees that can be saved and remove those that can’t before they become a safety hazard,” Bass said. “We are grateful to everyone who attended the workshop and are eager to work with our residents to preserve our beautiful trees.”
Residents must work with a certified arborist or tree removal specialist to apply for financial assistance with the City of Boerne. Incentives are provided through a reimbursement to the applicant upon completion of the work. Each property can receive a maximum of $3,000 in combined incentives annually. Click here to see a full overview of the incentive program.
Other presenters at the workshop included Stephen Zoeller, the county extension agent with Texas AgriLife Extension, who spoke about landowner assistance programs.
Erin Davis, a staff forester with the Texas A&M Forest Service, gave a presentation on Oak Wilt in Central Texas and shared information on resources and incentive programs through her organization. Click here to download her presentation.
Lastly, Dr. David Appel, a professor and extension specialist with Texas A&M University spoke about oak wilt biology, identification, management, and treatment.
If you would like to learn more about the City of Boerne’s Oak Wilt Management Incentive Program or oak wilt in general, please email Ryan Bass or call (830) 331-9707.
To learn more about oak wilt and access resources and videos, visit TexasOakWilt.org.
