The City of Seattle IPM and Recertification Webinar Series is back for 2025! These free online training courses focus on the care of urban landscapes and provide renewal credits for WSDA pesticide licenses and ISA certifications.
Open to all and free to attend (pre-registration is required, links below).
Up to three (3) WSDA credits and three (3) ISA credits are available per webinar.
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Session 1: Tuesday, February 4, from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
Register for Session 1 here: https://seattle.webex.com/weblink/register/r3cc8b55fbff128cf79db67bec68b2a20
(Participants must register for each session separately.)
Complexities of Oak Wilt Fungus by Chris Rippey
Oak wilt is a fungus that is believed to have arrived in the US from south American sometime in the 1940s. This fungus affects all trees in the beech family which includes all oak trees. Here in the mid-western US, we see Oak Wilt killing many oak trees particularly our native pin oak trees. This fungus has the potential to be devasting to your native oak and English oaks which are common in the PNW. This talk will cover what Oak Wilt is, how to identify it among other look alike disorders, how the fungus spreads, what can be done to slow its spread once it is in an area, and things you all can do to see if Oak Wilt is already in the PNW.
Chris Rippey has over 25 years of experience in the field of arboriculture. He is the owner of the Missouri Arborist Company out of Sedalia, Missouri. Chris is a Registered Consulting Arborist with the American Society of Consulting Arborists and a Board-Certified Master Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture. He is also a Certified Pesticide Applicator with the State of Missouri. Chris is an avid bicycle racer and a professional boxing and MMA coach.
Insects in Warmer, Urban Forests by Patrick Tobin
Urban forests are particularly vulnerable to insect pests due to the abiotic and anthropogenically derived stresses they face. Insects, both native and non-native, also pose problems in urban forest; and they can also be affected by climate change, positively and negatively. In this talk, I will discuss how climate change affects insect population dynamics, and how these dynamics play out in urban forests.
Patrick Tobin is a Professor of Disturbance Ecology in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington. His primary research interests include the ecology of biological invasions, the spatial and temporal dynamics of insect populations, and the role of climate change on insect populations. In addition to his research program, he teaches Invasion Ecology, Insect Ecology, and Introductory Statistics and Probability, and leads a study abroad course in Costa Rica during the summer.
Weed and Disease Suppression through Soil Cultivation and Amendments by Kate Kurtz
Prevention is commonly taught as the starting point for IPM programs, and soil preparation is a key practice for this. In this presentation, SPU soil scientist Kate Kurtz will discuss how we can use cultural IPM methods such as soil cultivation, testing, compost, and mulch to control weeds and create the physical and chemical conditions to grow vigorous landscapes that are more resistant to infestations. She will also discuss the new compost procurement and tracking requirements enacted at the state and local levels.
Kate Kurtz is the Organics and Landscape Resource Conservation Planner and Program Lead for Seattle Public Utilities. In this role she manages natural yard care education programming for both residential and professional audiences, teaches sediment and erosion control for construction professionals, and soil science for ecoPRO. In addition, she helps lead the development of policies and programs related to municipal composting.
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Session 2: Wednesday, February 26, from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
Register for Session 2 here: https://seattle.webex.com/weblink/register/r298d53ee6e429bf5377abdc1dc8890f1
(Participants must register for each session separately.)
Using Data to Drive Emerald Ash Borer Management by Jamie Lim
This presentation will explore how data-driven approaches can be leveraged to manage the threat of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in urban landscapes. Jamie Lim, Lead Arborist at Seattle Parks and Recreation, will share insights on tree inventory management, collaborative planning, and proactive measures being developed to protect ash trees on public property. Attendees will gain practical strategies for integrating data and IPM strategies into their EAB management efforts.
Jamie Lim is the Lead Arborist at Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist with extensive experience in arboriculture and urban forestry. Jamie has worked in for municipal institutes managing urban forestry in various major cities like Singapore, New York City and now in Seattle has a wide range of experience in tree inventory management, data-driven decision-making, and implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to support healthy urban landscapes. Currently, the Urban Forestry team in SPR is developing proactive measures to protect Ash trees on Parks property and working with city-wide urban forestry team on a collective approach to Emerald Ash Borer management.
Pesticides’ Risks to Pollinators: Routes to Exposure by Aaron Anderson
This presentation will review the risks pesticides pose to pollinators in urban landscapes. It will describe the routes of pesticide exposure to better understand how application methods, timing, and the life stage of the exposed insects can affect pollinator health and survival. We’ll explore how this fits into an integrated pest management (IPM) framework.
Aaron Anderson works with the public and Xerces staff to reduce pesticide use in residential landscapes, including promoting alternative pest control measures and pollinator-friendly gardening practices. Prior to joining Xerces in 2022, he researched pollinator conservation in urban landscapes, restored habitat for several endangered butterfly species, and worked in insect biocontrol. Aaron has a PhD from Oregon State University.
Weed ID by Smart Phone and Using iNaturalist by Skye Pelliccia
This presentation will provide guided demonstrations on how to use the smartphones in our pockets to make plant identification and inventory more accessible. Learn how the King County Noxious Weed Control Program leverages iNaturalist projects and ArcGIS to track noxious weeds, streamline reporting, and support Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) efforts. You’ll also discover how you can integrate these free tools into your own weed management work too!
Skye Pelliccia is a noxious-weed specialist and educator with the King County Noxious Weed Control Program. She has been working in environmental restoration field here in Seattle for 6 years. As someone without a formal educational background in botany, she is especially passionate about making the field more accessible to all. Outside of the Program, she is active in several groups that focus on the intersectionality between environmental ecology and equity & social justice. Beyond work, she tries to use plants in her art, finding appreciation for the nuances within weeds and native plants alike.
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Session 3: Thursday March 20, from 8 to 11:30 a.m.
Register for Session 3 here: https://seattle.webex.com/weblink/register/rdd81ae295f9ab94837c02b4e057b19c0
(Participants must register for each session separately.)
IPM at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens by Ryan Garrison
The University of Washington Botanic Gardens (UWBG) stewards over 14,500 accessioned specimens in its plant collection, representing over 4,000 different types of trees, shrubs and other plants native to 98 countries, which serve as vital resources for scientific study. Many of these collections are susceptible to plant insect pests and diseases and require a unique approach to IPM. Some plant germplasm is not easily replaced, and great efforts are made to save and/or propagate from those specimens, while other plants that are severely affected may be removed from the collection to prevent the spread of pests or pathogens. This presentation will cover the methods of scouting and treatment of pests and pathogens that threaten the plant collection at the UWBG and share some of the research done at the gardens.
Born in Jackson, Michigan, Ryan moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2002 after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in Horticulture. Ryan has worked at the University of Washington Botanic Gardens since 2003 and is currently the Plant Health Care Specialist. He has a deep passion for using plant collections in teaching and research, and in 2020 he got his master’s degree at the UW, where he studied the azalea lace bug feeding on Arboretum Rhododendrons. He is currently pursuing his PhD, studying the effect of evolutionary history on plant insect interactions.
Integrating Permaculture into a Pesticide Free Campus by Stephan Classen
This presentation describes the history and process of managing a larger public space pesticide-free. Cascadia College and UW Bothell Campus spaces changed to pesticides free management using IPM and permaculture methods in 2006. Stephan will discuss how these practices changed the landscape, including campus decisions considering spaces for habitat, pollinators, and other wildlife.
Classen is the Assistant Director of Sustainable Practices at Cascadia College, where he manages the or Sustainable Practices Bachelor program, supports facilities and grounds management for the permaculture campus, and works with partners to create programming and education activities. He was the Aquaculture Education Specialist for the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center (PACRC) in Hilo, Hawai`i. He has a Master of Science in Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science from the University of Hawai`i at Hilo, and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Arizona.
Beavers and Trees: A Love-Hate Relationship by Matthew Hilliard
Beavers create benefits and challenges. In the past, they have often been characterized purely as pests. However, in more recent times, people have begun to see how beavers benefit ecosystems throughout the entire North American continent. This presentation will provide information on beavers, the challenges faced in managing them, and strategies you can employ to mitigate impacts from beavers on landscapes you manage.
Matthew leads the Seattle Parks and Recreation Natural Areas Crew (NAC), which supports the department’s wildlife work. In the last year, as beavers have increased in population throughout Seattle, Matthew and the NAC have played a growing role in managing stream flows, protecting trees and re-planting natural areas that are influenced by beavers. With over 10 years of experience doing ecological restoration work, Matthew has seen the myriad benefits and challenges that beavers bring to urban ecosystems. He enjoys working on projects that allow beavers and humans to coexist and is always looking to learn more and talk with others about our fascinating, furry friends.
The Best Rarely Propagated Native Plants for Supporting IPM and Biodiversity by Clay Antieau
Washington has more than 3,800 native vascular plant species, yet only a small fraction of those is currently propagated and available for landscape use. Some of these species have scant aesthetic or wildlife value while others require specific or unusual environmental conditions that make them difficult to cultivate or use successfully in functional landscapes. Still, many other species that should be widely propagated and cultivated are not. In this presentation, Clay introduces Northwest native woody and herbaceous species that demand more attention in ornamental landscapes and ecological restoration because they’re free of debilitating pests and disease; aggressively fill space to compete against weeds; support beneficial biodiversity; and promise to be future-ready!
Clay is a horticulturist, botanist, and environmental scientist who combines these disciplines to offer unique abilities and perspectives in environmental education. He’s a recognized local authority and educator in Northwest flora and has taught courses in plant identification, wetland science, restoration science, and related subjects at the University of Washington and numerous technical and community colleges around Washington. He’s been teaching for more than 40 years and is acclaimed for providing engaging and effective learning experiences for students. He is a Past President, former Chapter Chair, and former member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Native Plant Society; a Past President of the Society for Ecological Restoration Northwest Chapter; and a Research Associate at the University of Washington Herbarium at the Burke Museum.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my WSDA and/or ISA credits?
Sometime during each hour of the webinar, there will be a slide with a “codeword” and a link to a Microsoft Form. Those who want credits will fill out this short form (codeword, name license number, email.) Each codeword = 1 credit.
What if I’m sharing a screen with other attendees?
Each attendee who wants credits can access the codeword form with their smart phone via a QR code or link on the codeword slide. Attendees can enter their information on any smartphone or computer — it can be someone else’s. We no longer use “Shared Screen Forms”.
Will this be recorded?
Yes. We will send registrants a link to the recordings on Seattle Public Utilities YouTube Channel shortly after the webinar. (You cannot get credits for the recording. Only by attending the webinar and filling out the codeword form during the event.)
Digital Flier (with Links)
Printable Flier (with Scannable QR Code)