Now is the time for communities to prepare for The Emerald Ash Borer, before an infestation
MADISON – As local units of government discuss budgets and identify priorities for the upcoming year, state urban forestry specialists remind local officials to consider that a small metallic-green bug has the potential to complicate an already-challenging financial situation for Wisconsin’s cities, villages, towns, and counties.
The Emerald Ash Borer
Community officials should be discussing how they will respond to an emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation before the invasive arrives, says Dick Rideout Department of Natural Resources urban forestry coordinator, “and the best time for that discussion to take place is during budget deliberations.
“Based on what has happened in Wisconsin and in states that have been dealing with EAB-related issues for the past six years, it is important to be proactive, rather than merely reacting to an infestation,” Rideout said.
Both public officials and residents must play a role in this, Rideout said.
“The first step involves learning about EAB – what does it look like and how does it kill ash trees,” Rideout said. “Local officials in particular need to know about their community’s urban forest -- how many ash trees are in their municipal boundaries, where those trees are located, and whether the trees are healthy or in poor condition.”
Residents may want to actively participate in local EAB planning. They can learn about local discussion by calling the local municipal clerk, asking the local librarian, visiting a Web site, or catching a local news story. Rideout said with this preparation, residents and officials can determine the best way for their community to respond to an EAB infestation and come up with a plan that minimizes environmental, financial, and quality-of-life disruptions.
“A community’s proactive planning will lead to a better utilization of tight fiscal resources,” Rideout said.
On August 4, 2008 officials from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection confirmed the arrival of EAB in the Village of Newburg. Three days later, a second EAB find a short distance from the first site was confirmed. Within a week, EAB quarantine regulations were put in place.
Since it was first discovered in Detroit, Michigan in 2002, EAB has spread to nine other states and to Canada. “This continued movement, coupled with the high price tag connected to the death of infested ash trees, are reasons why communities should prepare for this destructive invasive insect,” Rideout said. “EAB is not a problem that belongs to any single agency or location.”
Resources available
EAB information can be found at the Wisconsin Emerald Ash Borer Resource website at emeraldashborer.wi.gov (exit DNR) and at the Websites of the DNR, DATCP, the University of Wisconsin and UW-Extension, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the U.S. Forest Service, Rideout said. These agencies share responsibility for responding to EAB. The Wisconsin Emerald Ash Borer Resource Web site also has a link to the Wisconsin Emerald Ash Borer Response Plan (pdf) (exit DNR), which details how state and federal agencies will respond to EAB finds.
Another valuable source of information is the Emerald Ash Borer Toolkit for Wisconsin Communities, a compilation of documents and resources prepared by DNR Urban Forestry staff. The Toolkit is regularly updated and includes planning documents, copies of sample ordinances, and information about management strategies that can be used “as-is” or adapted to meet a community’s circumstances. All or select parts of the Toolkit now can be downloaded from the DNR Urban Forestry Web site. A CD of the Toolkit can also be ordered from that webpage at no charge.
In addition to UW-Extension staff and private sector consulting arborists, Rideout said DNR’s regional urban forestry coordinators are another valuable resource for community officials to consult. “These individuals can help connect community leaders to the resources that are right for them,” he said.
Rideout said a local plan may address “who will be removing EAB-infested trees, whether a municipal department can handle additional work without additional financial resources, how infested trees will be disposed of, who will be notified of a possible EAB problem, and how citizens will receive EAB information.” Plan elements requiring a financial expenditure or a commitment of time include an inventory of all trees in a municipal area, analyzing whether local ordinances need to be changed or updated, and contacting neighboring communities to determine if a cooperative arrangement could ultimately reduce EAB-related costs for taxpayers.
“Urban forests are a valuable and under-utilized resource that can be ‘put to work’ to positively impact storm water problems, air pollution, and climate change. We need to protect what we have and also plan a more sustainable and resistant to future invasive species. ”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT Dick Rideout, 608.267-0843
