b'the other side of the Connecticut River. He has convened several meetings of In Canterbury, Worthley worked withstakeholders concerned about dead UConn students to assess the extent ofroadside trees as potential safety hazards, the damage, recording stretches of road- including representatives from the public way with up to 30 to 40 dead trees perutilities, the state departments of trans-mile. And he formed a working group ofportation and energy and environmental town and state officials, representativesprotection, professional arborists, tree from utility companies, and members ofwardens, and others. He emphasized the the forestry and arboricultural commu- extent and seriousness of the problem, nities, to coordinate efforts to address theand encouraged communication and issues. cooperation.Tom got the ball rolling for us, saysWorthley and other forestry experts Lippke, the first selectman. His expertiseguided Congressman Joe Courtney and knowledge are helping us be proactivethrough Pachaug Forest in the spring of rather than reactive. 2019 to survey tree damage. Recognizing Dead trees can be hazardous. Fallingthe cost of clearing dead and dying trees, trees and branches can injure people,Courtney is exploring the possibility damage property, hinder commuters andof using federal funds to address gypsy emergency responders, and bring downmoth outbreaks.power lines. Dead wood also increasesThe scale and scope of tree mortality the risk of wildfires. Because of this,in eastern and central Connecticut is Canterbury, like many other towns, isa potential public safety hazard and a problem beyond the capacity of towns, Tree Mortality facing prohibitive costs, as the cost ofthe Department of Transportation, and cutting down a single tree can be hun- utilities, says Worthley. Dead trees are dreds of dollars. more dangerous the longer they are left In addition to local efforts, Worthleyto stand. Time is of the essence. HEUConn Collaborates on Gypsy Moth Cleanup is also working at the statewide level. Evidence of gypsy moth caterpillar damage is seen throughout Connecticut as dead trees stand out against Connecticut residents are all too famil- To help deal with the moths devastatingRecently, he has spent much of histhe foliage of healthy trees. iar with the damage wrought by gypsyimpact on the environment, Lippketime addressing tree mortality.moths in recent years, particularly in theand many others in eastern ConnecticutDuring the spring and summer of eastern part of the state. have engaged the resources of UConn2018, says Worthley, the impact of In Windham County, for example,Extension. previous years drought, defoliation, one of the most severely affected areasTom Worthley, an associate extensionand secondary opportunistic pathogensArticle by Jason M. Sheldonover the past few years, Canterbury firstprofessor with a joint appointment in thebecame apparent as tens of thousandsContactselectman Christopher Lippke puts theDepartment of Natural Resources andof roadside trees throughout easternTom Worthleydeath of trees from gypsy moths alongthe Environment, is at the forefront ofConnecticut and thousands of acresthomas.worthley@uconn.edutowns roads at nearly 600. this effort. He has met with homeowners,of oak woodlands exhibited severectforestry.uconn.eduWith their voracious appetites, gypsylandowners, and community leadersmortality.moth caterpillars are able to defoliatethroughout Connecticuts Quiet CornerHe notes that both state forest lands trees, particularly oaks. While healthyto offer advice on how to control theand many private parcels in eastern trees usually recuperate, the extent of thegypsy moth population even before anConnecticut have been affected, with damage along with drought conditionsoutbreak, what can be done in the midstsevere canopy loss on tens of thousands over the past few years has impeded theirof one, and how to mitigate tree damage. of acres, and partial canopy loss on many recovery. more, from the Rhode Island line west to 30 2019 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION 2019 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION 31'