[JayB]

Was driving home after doing a bit of kayaking near Snoqualmie Pass and noticed tons and tons of fir trees that looked like they were rust colored from top to bottom. The die-off seemed particularly acute near Exit 38 - with what looked like 2-3 acres of dead trees clustered together. Deciduous trees seemed totally unaffected. The closest thing I can recall is the look of some pine forests in central Oregon during a pine-beetle infestation.

Anyone have any idea what's killing the trees? Some kind of beetle? Virus? Fungus? Lingering effects of last years's drought? Essentializing neocolonialist heteronormative cis-privileging narrative institutional meta-hegemony?

 

[Salmo_g]

Yeah, that last one. I think that's what's doin' 'em in. Or root rot or road salt, but I like your idea better.

 

[deansie]

This happens a lot in CO in a big snow year, sodium chloride from road maintenance. Not sure if that's the case in WA but the trees next to I70 don't stand a chance

 

[Smalma]

As I recall Douglas firs are easily stressed during prolong droughts or heat waves; suspect you are seeing the residual of last year's drought.

Curt

 

[Philonius]

I've noticed what JayB is referring to, and would rule out the road salt theory; they're on the hillsides higher than any salt would be. Smalma probably has it right.
I was down in California (Santa Barbara area) last weekend, and they're loosing trees down there from the prolonged drought. Of course, they have quite the problem with heteronormative cis-privileging narrative institutional meta-hegemony too.

 

[GATOR9]

neocolonialist heteronormative cis-privieleging narrative institutional meta-hegemony. Does that mean they are being
peed on?

 

[Gard Nale]

I think it's too much CO2


Sorry buddy, had to.

 

[Tom House]

Calling Doctor Olmstead.

TC

 

[Old Man]

It's a bug doing all the damage. A beetle of some kind or is it a moth. The name has slipped my memory at this time.

 

[grantfurness]

I think its some type of beetle. Someone from the forest service service told me when i was out hunting several years, ago. I don't remember anything except its from a beetle. The warmer winters we've been having haven't killed the beetles off, so the trees suffer.

 

[SHD]

Lit ciggy butts can make the trees turn brown sometimes.

 

[Philonius]

Well, a minimal expenditure of google-fu confirms what I secretly feared but did not want to admit to myself; Spruce Budworm or Mountain Pine Beetle. I knew that some high west slope trees along SR 20 was being devastated, but hadn't seen it along the
I-90 corridor until recently. It gives me a sad.

 

[SHD]

Maybe we could curb the population with snacks!

 

[Smalma]

Another likely insect would be the Douglas fir tussock moth; I believe there were reported infestations of this critter in the Cascades earlier this decade.

If the trees died in a relatively short period of time; say since last summer I suspect the drought was a major contributor. If on the other hand this has been an ongoing process over several years a moth infestation (either the spruce bud worm or Tussock or both) are the likely candidates.

Where are the bug people when we need one?

Curt

 

[Batt B]

Was driving home after doing a bit of kayaking near Snoqualmie Pass and noticed tons and tons of fir trees that looked like they were rust colored from top to bottom. The die-off seemed particularly acute near Exit 38 - with what looked like 2-3 acres of dead trees clustered together. Deciduous trees seemed totally unaffected. The closest thing I can recall is the look of some pine forests in central Oregon during a pine-beetle infestation.

Anyone have any idea what's killing the trees? Some kind of beetle? Virus? Fungus? Lingering effects of last years's drought? Essentializing neocolonialist heteronormative cis-privileging narrative institutional meta-hegemony?

I drive the corridor a lot. As in, daily. Most of those trees got zapped during last year's heat and drought. That said, I haven't personally assessed each tree, and it's possible that the drought weakened them enough that they are suffering from some other opportunistic malady.

 

[Steve Call]

I drive over the pass frequently and have noticed the same. I believe its related to stress from last year's drought. I've noticed that the most affected trees seem to be on steeper slopes or areas where I suspect there isn't a lot of soil that could have held moisture last year. When I was in the Bob Marshall Wilderness last August the tips of new growth on of most all the conifers had turned brown. As the trees were stressed for water the new growth was the first to go.

 

[freestoneangler]

The effect of WFF trips to/from the Yakima, basin lakes, and RF... everything has its price.

 

[generic]

neocolonialist heteronormative cis-privieleging narrative institutional meta-hegemony. Does that mean they are being
peed on?

No.

It means they are a cross breed of a **** sexual and a transgender.

 

[Paul Huffman]

It's a bug doing all the damage. A beetle of some kind or is it a moth. The name has slipped my memory at this time.

Stop using that Vaseline hair tonic! That's what's making your mind slip!

 

[Lugan]

I noticed those dying trees a few times in recent weeks too. I don't think it's drought, as the brown trees are concentrated in a relatively small area. Within that area, lots of them are brown, and then suddenly in every direction the trees are green again. If it were drought, I'd expect to see the effects more broadly dispersed. My gut tells me there is an insect or disease starting there. But I defer to @Richard Olmstead on this one.