Volunteers Sought to Help Save El Cerrito and Kensington Oaks

A spreading, deadly fungus known as "Sudden Oak Death" has been ravaging oaks in California since 1995 and threatens to destroy some of the East Bay's most cherished stands of urban trees.

Friends of Five Creeks and other local organizations are seeking volunteers for a of trees in El Cerrito, Kensington and other areas on the west side of the East Bay hills. The survey is being coordinated by Matteo Garbelotto, an expert on Sudden Oak Death at UC Berkeley.

Those who volunteer will take a one-hour training session at UC Berkeley, 1:30 p.m., April 30. They then can choose where to search for samples of diseased carrier plants — mostly bay trees. Samples are to be returned to a collection box on campus by 5 p.m. May 1.

Those who wish to volunteer, can sign up at http://sodblitz.eventzilla.net. Susan Schwartz of Friends of Five Creeks can be contacted at f5creeks@aol.com.