Tacoma Community Science

Project 1 - Urban Heat and Tree Health

Help study the impacts of urban heat on tree health

Get Involved Method 1 - Visit these trees

Navigate to the maple trees in the below map, then add observations to the iNaturalist project.

Click Here to Open this Map on your Phone

Add Observations of these trees to the ‘Tacoma Street Tree Vulnerability Study’

iNaturalist Tacoma Tree Study

Steps to contribute

  1. Create an iNaturalist account/login
  2. Join this project
  3. Visit one of the trees in the google map
  4. Upload an observation
  5. Tag this project in the observation settings
  6. Answer the project questions
  7. Share the observation!
iNaturalist
View more observations from Tacoma Street Tree Vulnerability Study on iNaturalist ยป

Field Manual

Download the Manual

Webpage Embedded Below

Sooty Bark Disease

Sooty Bark Disease weakens and kills trees. The tree disease has been found in many areas of the Pacific Northwest.

Sooty Bark Disease is caused by the fungus Cryptostroma corticale. This fungal species grows inside the tree and releases spores after causing the outer bark to flake off.

Your help is needed to determine what trees are susceptible to this disease. So far, research has found the fungus on the following species:

  • Horse Chestnut
  • Bigleaf Maple
  • Sycamore Maple
  • Norway Maple
  • Pacific Dogwood
All of these species are commonly planted throughout Tacoma.

The disease is likely emerging as an issue now because of recent longer and hotter droughts.

Learn more about Sooty Bark Disease at the following webpages:

Cryptostroma corticale spores - M. Elliott, WSU

“The impacts of this disease on our forests and communities are likely to get worse as summer droughts become longer and hotter in the Pacific Northwest” 

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"Unfortunately, some neighborhoods may be more impacted than others"
Joey Hulbert
Program Director
Click here to learn more about Sooty Bark Disease
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