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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5C, Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Approval� EN HILLS Request for Council Action Prepared By: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager Council Meeting Date: June 25, 2012 Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Approval Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source: N/A N/A N/A Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan. Supportin� Documents: 1. Memorandum dated June 25, 2012, from Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager. 2. Draft Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan. � EN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: June 25, 2012 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers Patrick Klaers, City Administrator CC: Terry Maurer, Public Works Director FROM: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager � SUBJECT: Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Approval Back�round At the May 21, 2012 Work Session, the City Council reviewed and commented on the draft Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan (EAB). The purpose of implementing a management plan is to attempt to mitigate the disruption to the City's urban forest caused by the infestation of the EAB. Taking a proactive approach to the potential infestation enables the City to address both public and private impacts in an efficient and effective manner. Council had few changes to the draft management plan. Staff received the following direction from Council on dealing with the threat of EAB and this was incorporated into the attached Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan. 1. The City will remove declining ash trees on public property, even when EAB has not been identified. No significant pruning or methods to save a declining ash tree will be attempted. Council is not interested in removing healthy ash trees at this time. 2. Ash trees removed will be replaced on a case by case scenario, not a one to one basis. 3. Ash trees that become diagnosed with EAB in the public forested areas will not be removed unless they pose a threat to surrounding property. 4. The City has no plans to chemically treat ash trees at this time. 5. The City will allow chemical injections in private trees. However, the City will strongly discourage soil drenching. If EAB is discovered in a resident's tree, the City would mark it for removal and give 30 days. However, if the tree had not declined significantly, the resident may request to be given the opportunity to treat the tree versus removal. The City would require a letter from a certified arborist that the tree is being treated with a chemical injection. 6. The City Council is not interested in requiring tree contractors to apply for a business license with the City. The City does not give out a list of recommended tree contractors. The suggestion from Council was that staff IlMetro-inet.uslardenhillslPR&PW1ParkslMemoslCouncil Memos106252012 EABplan.doc �� prepaxe a list of questions that residents should be asking tree contractors before hiring them to do work for them. Staff is currently preparing that list and will have that available at City Hall and on the website for residents. Council Action Requested Staff recommends approval of the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan. IlMetro-inet.uslardenhillslPR&PWIParkslMemoslCouncil Memos106252012 EAB plan.doc � EN HILLS Background Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutri ts. Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing materi ed in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. Without any natural pred r eontrols in North America the insect has spread to 13 states and two Canadian provin EAB adults can fly at least a half mile from infestations are most often created when pe firewood into uninfested areas. Transporta spread of EAB. Ramsey County is a quarantii wood outside the County. The innesota quarantine enforcement and penalti Signs and Symptoms Signs and symptoms • Bark splittin� o Vertic o Galle� • Ser�r������ . - �. o Adult - � Larva - ( • Ca dieback ' in top o� ;ses until 0 o rr• • Increased w • Sprouting of sed Current EAB situation ude: when firewood has be Agriculture long, flattened back is bare t3'• ts from the base of the tree However, new ash trees, logs or �ted to reduce the �sportation of ash �esponsible for St. Paul and Falcon Heights confirmed EAB discovery in May of 2009. The City of Shoreview confirmed EAB discovery in the vicinity of County Road I and Schutta Road in July of 2011. The Department of Agriculture has since identified 11 trees in this neighborhood with confirmed EAB and several that are suspected and being monitored. How these trees became infested is not known, though it is worth noting that the trees are only a half mile from interstate highway 35W and in other states the principal spread of EAB has been along travel corridors. Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan - City of Arden Hills Page 1 bark Analysis of the infestation showed that the EAB had been present for 3-4 years, which is consistent with the insect's path of destruction. Symptoms are slow to appear and once EAB is actually found, it is estimated that it has already been present for 3-5 years. It is difficult to determine when EAB will reach Arden Hills. It is estimated that as much as 12.3% of Arden Hills' urban forest is compiled of ash trees based on a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources survey (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 2010 Community Tree Survey. Survey of front yard and street trees in residential and commercial sampling areas) To date, North American communities have not been successfu in eradicating EAB once found. EAB typically builds in population and eventually infests an all variety of ash trees. Resident Education Resident education and communication are key c nents of ing the impact of the EAB, especially as more information becomes avai ublic inform is available to residents through the City's website, newsletters, and a. le at City Hall. Homeowners may treat their private trees, adheres to the City's standards to p Mitigation Although it is not po City of Arden Hills' mitigation of EAB v which attempts to co I�T the in contractor who � cies, the Emerald Ash Borer, the t� anage the impacts. The City's intent of utch Elm and Oak Wilt Disease, iese diseases. for the EAB problem: ; software, "Simple Trees" of all trees in the This will help the City monitor the condition changes were 2011. ties for all Right of Way trees abutting a City road. These � amendment of Chapter 3 of the City Code in October of • Updated the City's Tree and Vegetation Ordinance, Chapter 7 to add ash trees to the diseased trees that must be removed to prevent the spread of the disease. This ordinance permits the City to enter private property for inspection, order the removal of diseased trees and abate the nuisance upon non-compliance of property owners. Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan - City of Arden Hills Page 2 • The City website includes information for residents on what steps to take if EAB is suspected in one of their trees and general information. The City has handouts from the Minnesota Department of Resources available at City Hall. The City of Arden Hills will take the following actions: • The City will monitor ash trees througliout the City for EAB and in the event EAB is discovered, staff will utilize Chapter 7, section 710 - Protection of shade trees from the City Code to prevent the spread of the disease. As ' e case of Oak Wilt and Dutch Elm, this ordinance allows the City to enter privat erty for inspection of ash trees, order the removal of diseased trees, and abat isance upon non-compliance of property owners. • The City will begin some removal of EAB has not yet been identified. The boulevard areas. No significant prunin attempted. The City will r ove the that is removed will be on ca� of ash trees include: . Staff will During by tran�� it trees �'ng ash trees trees could be property, even when ithin City parks or in ave a de ash tree will be The decisi a replace a tree reasons for preemptive removal � ,. . a lon : : riod of time. �climng trees m the fall. The most critical period for rees ay-July. This is the period when adult i n liage, and move to more trees to lay their to leav e trees standing and not chance the spread of sted wood to other areas. The City will follow the e's regulations for handling ash wood removal • There ar ently tw ethods of tree treatments being offered in the markefiplace; drenching t il wit . emicals and injecting the chemical into the tree. The City strongly disco se of soil drench insecticides due to potential to pollute water and negatively i ildlife. Due to the high cost of reoccurring treatments and the long-term effects o chemical treatments on ash trees, water resources, and the environment, the City has no plans to chemically treat public trees. The City strongly encourages residents to utilize a certified arborist to treat trees. o The City will permit residents to use chemical treatments on private ash trees, given the following: a. Private contractors are to use only the approved trunk injection method. Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan - City of Arden Hills Page 3 b. The injection treatment application must be done by a City licensed tree contractor that is bonded, insured, and state licensed to apply commercial tree chemicals. • The City will publicize the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's regulations for handling ash wood removal. Ramsey County is currently under a quarantine which prohibits the transportation of wood outside of the County. From September 15th to May 1 St EAB-infested trees can be removed and transported ly within the quarantine area, so long as they are promptly chipped to the required di ns, less than 1"x 1"x 1". Non- infested EAB trees can be removed from Septe 5�` to May lst using the normal process of transporting un-chipped wood to the ounty Yard Waste Site. • In an effort to encourage refc Ramsey County's Friends of the • The City will track the spread of EAB the Department of Agricultur� The following is a list of resources symptoms, firewood requirements, � website and updated as needed. . . . • • . . • � r�ici�-i;� xu r-»u 1 rLi ';,� �y, s;,;; I Have EAB ��� E : 2 �� `'����3 / 1 . ,.,.,.: ,. �. � n �rivate � tree sale. to rev�� �options. Guidelines the City will promote conjunction with learn about Emerald Ash Borer �ese will be listed on the City's Homeowner Guide to Insecticide Selection, Use and Environmental Protection Ash Tree Waste Disposal Sites within Hennepin-Ramsey-Houston Countv Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan - City of Arden Hills Page 4