[caption id="attachment_213482" align="alignright" width="460"] Trees in Rollingwood and West Lake Hills continue to be threatened by oak wilt.[/caption]

What we reported

In early 2016, West Lake Hills and Rollingwood city councils considered options to protect their cities’ oak trees from oak wilt. An oak wilt disease hotspot in unincorporated Travis County near the Westwood Terrace area threatened to spread into West Lake Hills.

The latest

In an effort to halt the spread of oak wilt from Westwood Terrace, West Lake Hills will work with Water District 10 on a project that calls for trenching to install a new water line in the area, which should act as a buffer. The project will start by the end of January.

Rollingwood continues to develop plans for trenching on residential properties and streets. In January, an informational flyer was distributed to Rollingwood homes to help residents identify trees showing signs of oak wilt and educate them on the potential impact of the disease.

What’s next

Rollingwood will explore hiring a city arborist with a certification as an oak wilt specialist who could evaluate trees on city property and act as a consultant for residents who request the services.

West Lake Hills Mayor Linda Anthony said the city is planning to host an oak wilt symposium in the spring for area cities and neighborhoods combating oak wilt. The city held a similar meeting last summer with positive results, she said.

This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of 10 things to look for in 2017 here.