Vista Verde meeting minutes and other documents
Various Vista Verde documents including meeting minutes can be found at the link below: http://vistaverdepv.org/index.php/vista-verde/vvca-downloads/viewcategory/3-vvca
rkalman
What will you do when the power goes out?
In May 2015, Pacific Gas and Electric Company conducted a massive exercise to test its preparedness and response to a… Read More »What will you do when the power goes out?
Stopping Your Junk Mail
The Town of Portola Valley has an exciting new program to announce! We have partnered with Catalog Choice to offer our residents and businesses a service to reduce unwanted mail and phone books.
Any resident or business in Portola Valley can create a free account at https://portolavalley.catalogchoice.org to reduce unwanted catalogs, phone books, credit card offers, coupons and other marketing material received at home and in the workplace. This is the perfect time of year to join! As the holiday catalogs come in, opt-out and stop the waste next year! It’s free and it works.
How does the Stop Junk Mail service work?
How Houses Catch Fire
This short video shows how wildfire embers can ignite houses, and provides suggestions for making your home more fire-resistant. Definitely… Read More »How Houses Catch Fire
Preventing SOD By Trimming Back Bay Trees and Other Carrier Plants
To reduce the spread of SOD, a study conducted by the USDA recommends that Bay trees be separated from susceptible… Read More »Preventing SOD By Trimming Back Bay Trees and Other Carrier Plants
Emergency Preparedness Exercises
Emergency Preparedness Exercises are held twice a year in Vista Verde, with one exercise simulating a major wildland fire and the other a major earthquake. These exercises are an excellent opportunity to learn what to do in the case of a major disaster, and a great way to get to know your neighbors. Residents taking part in these exercises assemble at the homes of their Group leaders (see the Neighborhood Emergency Organization Chart to find your Group leader) at the beginning of the exercise and are given instructions there. These emergency response exercises are announced by emails on the community email group, and notifications on this website and the CERPP website.
Typical emergency exercise activities include:
Applying Agri-Fos
Agri-Fos is phosphate compound formulated to stimulate growth in trees. Research has shown that about 80% of trees respond well to treatment, meaning that their defenses are stronger. Applications should be made when the tree is actively transpiring. Avoid treating trees during very hot or very cold weather. Also, avoid applying the compound when deciduous oaks have lost their leaves or when new leaves are emerging in the spring.
Read More »Applying Agri-Fos
Oakworm Infestation
Although the oakworm devastation is alarming looking, it is not an alarming situation for the oaks. “Defoliation seldom, if ever, kills affected trees“ according to the USDA publication, “A Field Guide to Insects and Pathogens of California Oaks” www.phytosphere.com/publications/Fieldguide.htm (an excellent resource!). Copied below are pages 14 & 15 describing California oakworm/oakmoth. The “Importance” paragraph is moved to the fore. Note also that oakworm infestation is unrelated to Sudden Oak Death (SOD).
Read More »Oakworm Infestation
Pentra-Bark Toxicity
From Dr. Matteo Garbelotto, Forest Pathologist and Mycologist, UC Berkeley October 20, 2007
The assumption (in Dr. Cindy Russell’s email below) is that massive spraying will occur, which is not the case. Treatments are focused on individual trees and the bark applications are not broadcasted but basically carefully applied on individual trees.
Fueling a car is a lot more dangerous than an appropriate application of Pentrabark from an environmental perspective. Because the product sticks on the target surface, it is extremely difficult for it to get into the environment.
The email I was sent takes the treatments out of context, however we will dedicate an equal amount of time to injections that do not require Pentrabark.
Bay Laurel and Oak Disposal
By Amanda Lee
Once SOD-infested oaks, bay laurels, and other trees are taken down, that material is still capable of infecting living trees. Recommendations for disposal of SOD-infested material found on www.suddenoakdeath.org website from the “Homeowner’s Guide” (http://nature.berkeley.edu/comtf/pdf/HomeownersGuide6-07.pdf ) are: “In infested areas where burning is not possible, the best option is to leave infested material on site, chipping the small material (for use as ground cover) and using larger pieces for firewood. Composting can also successfully kill the pathogen, but the compost must reach temperatures that are probably not possible or practical in a home composting site. Since inoculum levels are already thought to be high in an infested site, leaving the additional inoculum from the infested plant material on site will not significantly worsen the local disease conditions.”
Read More »Bay Laurel and Oak Disposal