EMERALD ASH BORER MANAGEMENT PLAN
FOR THE CITY OF ROCKY RIVER
The Emerald Ash Borer is a
wood-boring beetle which attacks only ash trees causing decline and / or death
of the tree. There is no known treatment
to completely eradicate this pest.
Evidence of the Emerald Ash Borer has already been found in
There was no sign of
infestation in the City’s ash trees at the end of 2006. The City met in December of 2006 with the
Forester from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources who is certain that in
the near future, an infestation will definitely contaminate
Of the approximately 7,000
trees (
PURPOSE
As it is certain that this pest
will eradicate the majority of the Ash species in
v
Monitoring as the infestation approaches the City of
v
Communication from the Mayor to: City Council,
residents and private sector regarding how to recognize signs of infestation
and what to do;
v
Treatment – trees located on public property and having a very high potential for
survival may be treated in an attempt to protect them from the impending
infestation;
v
Removal
– as necessary trees on public property that are dead, posing a safety threat
or not salvageable due to the Emerald Ash Borer shall be removed;
v
Replace
(Canopy Replacement and Care)– the City will replace Ash trees removed from
parks and public property with other species and will recommend that streets
with Ash tree lawn trees be considered for future “Free Tree Lawn Tree” programs
that are sponsored by the City and the Beautification Committee
MONITORING
The City Forester has
completed an Ash tree inventory for public property and parks and will be
reviewing public property Ash trees regularly (including trees on tree
lawns). He will look for Emerald Ash
Borer “D-shaped” exit holes near the tops of Ash species and if he deems it necessary,
he will scrape bark of the tree to look for evidence of the borer (borer
“tracks”). Any Ash tree on public
property or in parks that may be showing signs of stress (dead branches at the
top of the tree, etc.) will be cause for the Forester to check for evidence of
the borer.
The City Forester will meet,
by appointment, any resident that is concerned that they have an Ash species
under stress on their private property.
The Forester cannot treat trees on private property and will recommend
private property tree owners to contact private tree service personnel.
COMMUNICATION / EDUCATION
The City Forester has met
with the ODNR Urban Forester and has attended seminars that address the pending
Emerald Ash Borer infestation. The City Forester and the Safety Service
Director shall monitor the situation as a part of their regular
responsibilities and shall brief the Mayor on a regular basis as to any and all
developments. The Mayor will advise City
Council and will share information with our residents in this regard.
It will be important to urge
that no resident take firewood from another location onto their property and
not to take firewood from their property to another (camp sites, hunting sites,
etc.). This is mandated by the
Compliance Agreement from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (see definitions). Transporting of firewood may be how the
Emerald Ash Borer has been transported from one area to another.
Currently, on the City’s web
site there is information regarding the Emerald Ash Borer, how to recognize the
pest and signs of infestation. This
information will be available to the public at City Hall and updated as new
information becomes available.
Those tree service contractors
currently licensed to work in the City of
The Safety Service Director
and City Forester will report weekly to the Mayor as to the status of this
situation and the Mayor will disseminate this information. In addition, the Forester will meet with any
resident, by appointment, regarding any concerns or questions about their Ash
trees and the Emerald Ash Borer.
TREATMENT
After careful monitoring,
the City Forester will treat only Ash trees on public property that have a very
strong potential of surviving the infestation with pesticide.
As trees on public property
become diseased they will be monitored closely by the City Forester. Before becoming a safety hazard they will be
removed.
The City Forester will meet
any resident by appointment regarding concerns for Ash trees on their private
property. However, only City licensed
tree services can treat and / or remove Ash trees located on private property.
While financial, staffing
and equipment resources are being used in addressing the Emerald Ash Borer
infestation other forestry services may be delayed. The City Forester will consider Emerald Ash
Borer complaints a priority and the Forester will prioritize the investigation
of these complaints based on his expertise.
REMOVAL / CANOPY REPLACEMENT & CARE
Any tree on public property
determined to be a potential hazard by the Mayor, Safety Service Director or
City Forester shall be removed at the Forester’s discretion. Trees removed from public property for
Emerald Ash Borer infestation shall be chipped (into at least 2” pieces) and
maintained in a mulch pile at the Service Garage. Trees from private property shall be chipped
and removed by the tree service engaged by the property owner.
Wood from private property
that cannot be chipped and stored must be handled according to the Ohio
Department of Agricultures guidelines and specifications.
On City streets where an Ash
tree was designated as tree lawn tree in the past, it will be recommended for
the City’s free tree lawn tree program which is coordinated with the City’s
Beautification Committee. Trees
designated for those streets shall no longer be of an Ash species and will be a
different variety of tree that is disease and pest resistant.
Trees removed from public
property (parks, etc.) shall be replaced with at least one tree and the City of
Rocky River will attempt to plant two trees to replace each removed Ash tree
where the City Forester deems it appropriate.
The replacement trees will not be planted until the spring of each year
(to get the best pricing and allow the tree’s root system to be established
during the spring and summer months).
CONTACT LIST
Tree Service Contractors licensed
to work in the City of
Wilson Tree Service 440-353-0083
Bunce Tree Care 440-236-3389
Edwards Tree Service 440-988-4477
Jim’s Tree Service 440-235-9001
Cuyahoga Tree Service 216-506-7920
Davey Tree Expert 330-673-9511 x 312
Mike’s Tree Service 440-235-5606
Northwest Tree Service 440-871-2365
Tomco Tree Service 440-933-8733
Wilson Tree Service 440-353-0083
DEFINITIONS
“Exit Hole”: D-shaped holes that the Emerald Ash Borer
makes during infestation of tree (may be more prolific near the tops of trees
early in the infestation of the tree).
Borer Tracks: Winding path under the bark where the Emerald
Ash Borer has burrowed.
Signs of Stress: The infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer will
cause trees stress; a sign of stress includes (but is not limited to) dead
branches at the top of the tree.
Compliance Agreement: Official Ohio Department of Agriculture
(ODA) and ASDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) approval for
moving regulated items outside a quarantine zone.
Quarantine Zone: ODA designed area restricting the movement of
regulated items
Regulated
Items: All Ash wood and non-coniferous
firewood.