The California Oak Mortality Task Force (COMTF) is a non-profit group working to manage Sudden Oak Death in California. COMTF was formed in August 2000 by merging the efforts of two separate state organizations: The California Forest Pest Council (CFPC) and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). The resulting Task Force is a consensus-driven coalition of research/educational institutions, public agencies, non-profit organizations, and private interests. Its primary purpose is to coordinate research, management, monitoring, education, and public policy efforts addressing elevated levels of oak mortality in California resulting from Sudden Oak Death (SOD). As we learn more about P. ramorum, our concern has broadened to include the other diseases it causes.
The Task Force goals are to:
- Minimize the impact and spread of Phytophthora ramorum on natural, agricultural, and human communities. Test
- Coordinate an integrated response by all interested parties to address Phytophthora ramorum.
- Serve as liaison to local, state, national, and international groups.
Contact List
Task Force Chair and Special Advisors
| Chris Lee, Chair | Forest Health Specialist, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection |
118 South Fortuna Blvd,
Fortuna, CA 95540
|
707/726-1254 [email protected] |
| Susan Frankel, Co-founder and Past Chair |
Sudden Oak Death Research Program Manager, USDA-Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station | [email protected] | |
| Mark Stanley, Co-founder and Past Chair |
Retired Chief Deputy Director, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection | [email protected] |
Education and Outreach Committee
Management Committee
| Yana Valachovic | Forest Advisor, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, University of California Cooperative Extension | 5630 South Broadway, Eureka, CA 95540 | 707/445-7351 [email protected] |
| Kerri Frangioso |
Staff Research Associate, University of California, Davis | 371 Hutchison Hall, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616 | 831/620-1098 [email protected] |
Monitoring Committee
| Richard Cobb | Assistant Professor, Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences | California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 | 805/756-6333 [email protected] |
| Kim Corella | Forest Health Specialist, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection | 880 Manzanita Drive, Los Osos, CA 93402 | 805/550-8583 [email protected] |
Other Phytophthoras Committee
| Diana Benner | Principal, The Watershed Nursery | 601A Canal Blvd, Richmond, CA 94804 | 510/234-2222 [email protected] |
| Janell Hillman | Plant Ecologist, Santa Clara Valley Water District | 5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA 95118 | 408/265-2600 [email protected] |
Nursery Committee
| Karen Suslow | Program Manager, National Ornamental Research Site at Dominican University in CA | 50 Acacia Ave, San Rafael, CA 94901 | 530-681-5538   [email protected] |
| Kathy Kosta | Senior Environmental Scientist and Plant Pathologist, California Department of Food and Agriculture | Pest Exclusion Branch, 1220 N Street, Room 327, Sacramento, CA 95814 | 916/403-6634 [email protected] |
Regulations Committee
| Helene Wright (Federal) | Plant Health Director, USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) | 650 Capital Mall Suite 6-400, Sacramento, CA 95814 | 916/930-5500 [email protected] |
| Nick Condos (State) | Branch Chief, California Dept. of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) | 1220 N Street Room 327, Sacramento, CA 95814 | 916/654-0312 [email protected] |
| Tony Linegar (County) | Agricultural Commissioner, Sonoma County | 133 Aviation Blvd, Suite 110, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 |
707/565-2371 [email protected] |
Research
| Susan Frankel | Sudden Oak Death Research Program Manager, USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station | [email protected] | |
| Dave Rizzo | Professor of Plant Pathology, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis | 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616 | 530/754-9255 [email protected] |
Treasurer
| Steve Jones | Retired Deputy Chief for Forestry Assistance, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection | [email protected] |
Liason
| Tom Smith | Forest Health Specialist, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection | PO Box 944246, 1416 Ninth St, Sacramento, CA 95814 | 916/599-6882 [email protected] |
Science Advisors
| Matteo Garbelotto | Adjunct Professor and Extension Specialist, UC Berkeley | 151 Hilgard Hall, #3110, Berkeley, CA 94720 | 510/643-4282 [email protected] |
| Dave Rizzo | Professor of Plant Pathology, Department of Plant Pathology, UC Davis | 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616 | 530/754-9255 [email protected] |
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