Tree of Heaven Project - Underwood Conservation District

Underwood Conservation District is partnering with the City of White Salmon, City of Bingen, Yakama Nation Fisheries and Klickitat County Noxious Weed Control on a Tree of Heaven Project.  The purpose of the project is to increase community awareness and develop effective treatment strategies for Tree of Heaven to control the spread of its robust local populations. The ideal timing to treat the tree is August through the end of September.  We are prioritizing treatments on public lands within the urban areas of Bingen and White Salmon to start, and as funding allows, we hope to extend the treatment services to private properties.  Property owners and residents may contact UCD to get on an interest list, by calling or emailing us at 509-493-1936, ext. 6, toh@ucdwa.org.

As treatment dates are scheduled on public lands, we will invite people in the community to attend, learn how to identify the tree, witness treatment methods, and also learn more about the reasons for Tree of Heaven control. 

Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a preferred host of the invasive Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), which has not yet become established in Washington State, but poses a major threat to native ecosystems and the agricultural industry.  For a review of why and how we hope to control Tree of Heaven and the associated Spotted Lanternfly, here are some primers:

A very informative overview: https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/pdfs/Tree_of_heaven_and_spotted_lanternfly_small.pdf

The recommended best management practices for controlling Tree of Heaven are found here: https://columbiagorgecwma.org/weed-listing/best-management-practices/tree-of-heaven/ 

You can view mapped locations of this tree: EDD MapS (Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System), available here.  This map shows existing locations, and new sightings of the tree may also be reported through this program using a smart phone or computer.

Additional References and Resources:

• WSDA state map: https://cms.agr.wa.gov/getmedia/2fa7fc07-2ba4-476e-b47d-45bee70afe2c/Tree-of-heaven.pdf
• WA state Weed Control Board: https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/tree-of-heaven
• Penn State resources: https://extension.psu.edu/tree-of-heaven
• UC Davis weed control resources: https://wric.ucdavis.edu/information/natural%20areas/wr_A/Ailanthus.pdf