Leon Valley public works urges residents to avoid pruning oaks through June and consider treatment in mapped zones

David (Dave) Damline, the city's assistant public works director, told the council that oak wilt — a lethal fungal vascular disease — has been mapped in two Leon Valley areas (Bluebird and Evers Road) and that residents in those zones should consider treatment options and take precautions.

"Prevention, you wanna avoid pruning the oak trees between February and June 30," Damline said, explaining that the fungus spreads above ground via beetles attracted to fresh pruning wounds and below ground through root grafts among live oaks. He said the Texas A&M Forest Service mapped disease clusters and recommended candidate trees in adjacent rings for immediate or follow-up treatment.

Damline outlined practical steps the city is taking and offering: trenching where root connections exist, twice-yearly brush pickup scheduled in February and September when oak-wilt activity is lower, distribution of an oak-wilt brochure, and availability of a manual pump at Public Works for residents to borrow. He said the city will continue working with the Texas A&M Forest Service and host training in the spring.

Councilors asked how homeowners in the mapped zones would be notified. Damline recommended social media and the city's web channels rather than individual mailings because of cost and a high turnover in rental properties. Councilors also asked about treatment options in red (diseased) zones and whether A&M Forest Service assistance is available; Damline said A&M is a resource and can inspect trees.