Photo and caption by chelsey mccaw

On the calm shores of Carr Inlet lies the decaying trunk of an uprooted Douglas Fir. Beginning in the spring of last year, these magnificent trees began to show signs of distress in Kopachuck State Park. An outbreak of laminated root rot has spread throughout the forest grounds. This disease sneakily creeps up on firs. At one moment, they stand tall and healthy, and the next moment, they abruptly fall over. This year, hundreds of Douglas Firs have become infected with this disease, and the park campgrounds have been closed for public safety.

Location: Gig Harbor, Washington, USA