The Monitoring Committee maintains up-to-date information on the incidence of Sudden Oak Death, including maps showing the geographical range and lists of species that are affected. It coordinates all monitoring activities and develops monitoring strategies and protocols, including appropriate techniques for detection and surveying.

Co-Chairs:
Yana Valachovic, 707/445-7351, yvala@ucdavis.edu
Walter Mark, 831/427-1718, wmark@calpoly.edu

Monitoring Committee list server:
nature.berkeley.edu/mailman/listinfo/sod-monitoring

Committee Background:

The Monitoring Committee is one of six standing committees of the California Oak Mortality Task Force (COMTF). The other committees are Research, Education, Management and Regulation, Funding, and Fire Protection.

The California Oak Mortality Task Force (COMTF) brings together public agencies, non-profit organizations, and private interests to address the issue of elevated levels of oak mortality. The Task Force implements a comprehensive and unified approach for research, management, monitoring, education and public policy.

Committee Objectives:

The overall objective of this monitoring program is to determine the distribution, incidence, and impact of Sudden Oak Death and Phytophthora ramorum in the state of California. We are interested in both the distribution of the pathogen (as best it can be detected from leaf spots and other symptoms on all known hosts) and the impact the pathogen has had, including an estimate of the number of dead and symptomatic oak and tanoak trees in California. An effort will also be made at early detection of the pathogen.

Specific objectives include:

• Maintaining up-to-date spatial database of SOD
• Producing and disseminating SOD map products
• Providing access to up-to-date spatial database via:
- Maps (see SOD map list)
- Internet through webGIS development and maintenance (see OakMapper webGIS)
- Text reports (see SOD distribution list)
• Developing survey for determining presence of SOD in California
• Coordinating survey completion
• Determining potential areas for SOD spread
• Coordinating with other committees
• Providing technological assistance in environmental monitoring and geospatial technologies

Committee Members:

• Committee Co-Chairs: Yana Valachovic, U.C.C.E., Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, and Wally Mark, Cal Poly, S.L.O.
• List of members
• To join the Monitoring Committee, e-mail Yana Valachovic at yvala@ucdavis.edu.

Committee Meetings:

• December 15, 2002. Agenda and Notes.
• May 15, 2002. Joint Meeting with the COMTF Management Committee. Agenda and Notes.
• March 28, 2002. Agenda and Notes.
• November 15, 2001. Agenda and Notes.
• August 30, 2001. Agenda and Notes.
• August 2, 2001. Agenda and Notes.
• April 26, 2001. Agenda and Notes.
• February 1, 2001. Agenda and Notes.
• January 19, 2001. Agenda and Notes.