Ailanthus Removal - Shasta State Historic Park

Ailanthus Removal - Shasta State Historic Park

Remove and treat Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), an invasive shrub/tree that is expanding its coverage throughout Shasta State Historic Park (SHP) and threatening the integrity of its historic structures and landscape. Ailanthus will be controlled throughout the park with herbicide as prescribed by a Pesticide Control Advisor. The project entails an initial treatment, with a follow-up treatment approximately 6 months later. Ongoing maintenance thereafter will likely require annual treatment. The project will complement the park's "South Side Ruins Stabilization" project by killing vegetation prior to its removal adjacent to the ruins. The roots and bases of all other treated vegetation will be left in place to eliminate the chance of disturbing any unknown, underlying historic resources. Where the plants are growing through historic structures or are in locations that are difficult to access, basal bark herbicide treatment may be used. In these cases the plants would not be cut, but would be treated and left to die in place. The project involves no ground-disturbing activities, and will be conducted by Shasta SHP maintenance staff in consultation with the District Environmental Scientist and a DPR-qualified historian and archaeologist, to avoid adverse impacts to archaeological and historic resources as well as historic-era domestic vegetation.

Shasta