В парке Maple Ridge вырублено крупное дерево из-за опасного грибка

Large maple tree removed from Maple Ridge park Published 5:45 pm Tuesday, September 1, 2026 A large bigleaf maple tree near a picnic shelter was removed from Maple Ridge Park on Monday, Aug. 31 by the City of Maple Ridge. The tree was assessed by arborists who identified a pathogenic fungus called Kretzschmaria deusta that was making the tree susceptible to breakage. This fungus, also called brittle cinder fungus, weakens a tree internally and may lead to sudden breakage, said the City of Maple Ridge. The bigleaf maple was around 90-100 centimetres in diameter at breast height, and about 15 to 18 metres tall, said the city. According to North American horticultural and environmental service company Davey, the fungus appears around the base of trees that looks like a crust-like fruiting body that has wavy edges. When the fungus is young, the colouring is grey with white margins. When it ages it turns black and resembles burnt bark. Maples are one of the most commonly affected trees by this fungus. The city said the fungus can enter a tree through injuries near the base of the trunk or roots. It can also spread between susceptible trees through connected root systems or root grafts. In this case, the exact source of infection cannot be confirmed, said the city. However, an injury is the most likely entry point, as the neighbouring tree showed no visible signs of infection when it was assessed. The removal crew consisted of two arborists – a climber and a feller – as well as two ground crew members to meet safety standards. Equipment included a chip truck, chipper, skid steer with a grapple attachment, and trailer. The removal took approximately six hours. “Arborist reports were completed during the design stages of park improvements to assess the condition of trees near planned work areas,” said the city, noting that another bigleaf maple near the spray park was identified with the same fungus and removed in early 2025. “No other trees were identified as having the fungus at the time those reports were completed,” the city noted. The park is a popular recreation spot for Maple Ridge residents and those living outside of the city. It boasts a spray park, and brand new playground that includes a side-by-side zipline, 30-foot tree house, and accessible features. • Story updated with comments from the City of Maple Ridge