The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) teamed up with USDA Forest Service staff to conduct comprehensive aerial surveys of more than 20 million acres of forested land across the state, according to a report released earlier this month. These surveys, which aimed to assess the health of Washington's forests, concluded with the identification of approximately 545,000 acres of trees that were either dead or displaying signs of damage. This figure surpasses last year's findings by about 30,000 acres but still falls below the high mark set in 2022 when 672,000 acres were affected.
Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove highlighted the significance of such reports: “The Forest Health Highlights DNR publishes each year makes the long list of things impacting our forests accessible and understandable to everyone from land managers to casual recreators,” as stated on the DNR website. These findings underscore the urgency of increasing forest health treatment frequency and enhancing monitoring efforts.
One particular concern was the surge in silver fir beetle (SFB) caused mortality, which was mapped across approximately 2,900 acres in 2024, marking the most significant spread since 2004. DNR entomologist Glenn Kohler weighed in on the beetle's impact in the recent survey saying, “Silver fir beetle may not be responsible for the largest or most damaging impacts we see on an annual basis, but they can be some of the most visible, given where they can occur,” as reported by the DNR.
The surveys also recorded a resurgence of Western Spruce Budworm (WSB) defoliation, particularly east of Ross Lake in Whatcom County, Skagit County, and Okanogan County, totaling over 63,500 acres in 2024. This figure signifies a notable increase following three years where no WSB defoliation was recorded, though still remains less than past outbreaks. Additionally, concerns persist around the California Fivespined Ips beetle (CFI), which has expanded its range in Washington, now occurring in 14 counties and causing pine mortality in urban areas around Puget Sound.
