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Division of Urban Forestry
| Exotic Pest - Emerald Ash Borer In the Summer of 2002, the imported pest called the emerald ash borer (EAB) was found in Southeast Michigan. This insect can kill all species of North American ash (Fraxinus) trees including green ash, white ash and black ash. Since its discovery, over 25 million trees have been killed in ten states and Canada. In August of 2008, the insect was found in Wisconsin. There are confirmed finds of the insect in Washington, Ozaukee, and Kenosha Counties. The insect is native to Asia. It is thought it was brought to the USA in wooden packing crates. There is much research being done on the EAB to better understand the insect - and ultimately control it. A big cause of the spread of the insect is by inadvertently moving it in firewood. |
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| Stevens Point residents are advised to not plant any
type of true ash tree (green ash, white ash, black ash) in the near future. There are nearly 7,200 trees on City of Stevens Point parkways, encompassing over 130 different species and cultivars, of which 1,100 trees are ash. In light of the threat of the emerald ash borer, the city has not planted any ash trees to its parkway tree inventory since the Fall of 2004. The City of Stevens Point is preparing for emerald ash borer in several ways. We are watching how events unfold with this insect, and do not plan on planting any more ash trees in the foreseeable future. The Forestry Department has even asked local retail nurseries to avoid selling ash trees. A diverse tree population minimizes the effects of tree disease and insect outbreaks, and Stevens Point is planting many different tree species. The Stevens Point Forestry Department has participated in Wisconsin Department of Agriculture detection tree program in 2008, and has set up monitoring traps for EAB (see picture). Forestry personnel have been trained to know what to look for in regards to this insect. The city is also trying to keep staff, elected officials, and residents informed about the Emerald Ash Borer through press releases and information on this Web site. Every publicly-owned tree in the city right of-way is inventoried on a computer database, and all ash tree information has been updated. With the location and size of every ash street tree known, better and more accurate management decisions can be made. In 2009, ash trees on other publicly managed land (City parks and cemeteries) will be inventoried. Planning with the disposal/use of the waste wood is also being worked on. For more information, residents can call the Stevens Point Forestry Dept. at 346-1532, or look to the State of Wisconsin's EAB web page. |
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