A grove of about 75 pine trees on the hill overlooking the
Gavilan College football field stands in sharp contrast to the lush
greenery surrounding them.
A grove of about 75 pine trees on the hill overlooking the Gavilan College football field stands in sharp contrast to the lush greenery surrounding them.
The dying trees droop lower than their healthy counterparts. An arborist pinpointed the cause to an infestation of pine bark beetles, and the college now plans to remove the trees. The beetles attack trees weakened by drought, said Bill Wagner, director of facilities.
Although Wagner would like to have as much landscaping as possible on Gavilan’s campus, he is willing to sacrifice the cluster of young trees to prevent the infestation from spreading.
“It’s the right thing to do,” he said. “If we don’t take care of this now, it can lead to a much bigger problem.”
The pests will eventually kill the trees and, from the looks of it, the trees are well on their way. Although at one time, they provided shade and scenery, an infestation can cause falling branches and weakened trees, a danger to those using the athletic fields.
Gavilan’s maintenance department plans to have the trees removed and is waiting for the issue to go before the Health, Safety, Facilities and Grounds Committee in February.
After maintenance receives the final go ahead, the dying trees will be chopped before they pose a safety hazard.
