The public is invited to a meeting of the Trout Unlimited Susquehanna Chapter featuring a program about PA forest health presented by Sarah Johnson, Forest Health Program Specialist with the PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry. Johnson will present on the impacts of forest pests, diseases, invasive plants and non-biotic factors on the health of Pennsylvania’s forests and how declines in forest health can negatively impact water quality, specifically in cold water streams.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 7 pm at the Covenant Central Presbyterian Church, 807 West 4th Street in Williamsport. Parking and entrance to the church is at the rear of the building with access off of Campbell Street.

The major forest health factors impacting Pennsylvania right now are non-native insect pests of Eastern hemlock trees, spongy moths and non-biotic factors causing oak tree decline and mortality, beech bark and beech leaf disease in American beech trees, and several invasive plant species that multiply and spread very aggressively in streamside corridors.

She will also talk about large woody debris addition to streams, as well as aquatic organism passage best practices.

Johnson is DCNR’s Forest Health Specialist for northcentral Pennsylvania, covering the Susquehannock, Tioga, Tiadaghto, and Loyalsock State Forests. She has a bachelor’s of science degree in restoration ecology from Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio, a master’s of science degree in forestry and a doctorate in forest ecology from Penn State University.

Previous to her work with the Bureau of Forestry, Johnson worked for the PA Chapter of The Nature Conservancy as a forest ecologist and GIS analyst.

For more information, please see our website at https://susquehannatu.com.