Concerns around dead or dying trees in a Salmon Arm trail system are being looked at by the city. 

City staff confirmed the Pileated Woods trail system, located east of 5th Street SE between Auto Road and Old Auto Road, is on their radar. The needles of many trees in the park have turned reddish brown, a sign of disease and/or environmental stressors that may include bouts of extreme heat and drought. 

"The City is aware of the trees within pileated woods and are actively trying to gather information and facts to which an educated decision can be made on a proper management strategy," said city roads and parks manager Darin Gerow. 

Shuswap Trail Alliance executive director Jen Bellhouse said hers and city staff viewed the trail system and it has been flagged as a concern. 

"I believe that the city is looking at forming a group of individuals that would be able to address the situation," offered Bellhouse. 

Trees in a similar state have been noted on Mount Ida. 

B.C.'s forest ministry, which has a forest pathologist in Kamloops, said it is typical to see tree mortality occur for several years after a summer of extreme heat and drought as was experienced in 2023. A sign of this is when the needles of the trees fade in colour and gradually turn red.

"The trees can die directly from the drought itself or, being compromised by the drought succumb to insect infestations in subsequent years," said the ministry. "This type of post drought mortality is natural and is usually localized to individual trees or small clumps within a forest. The remaining stand or forest typically recovers."