2011-10-04_PR_Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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I' �ir/i/ / iVVVuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuVV Crews removed six trees, r risk. Ash borer tunnels into historic St. Paul area Article y: ROCHELLE OLSON, Star Tribune 26, 2011 The emerald ash borer's path of tree destruction has spread to St. Paul's stately and historic Summit Avenue, a startling distance from the sites of previously known infestations. The revelation means more than 1,000 trees in the area are at high risk, mostly on the streets that run parallel to Summit and west to the Mississippi River, where blocks full of ash trees were planted long ago. The city's Parks and Recreation Department confirmed Monday the infestation of at least six trees in the area of Dale Street and Summit Avenue, approximately 3 miles from the city's initial outbreak sites. "It's not great news for the citizens here, that's for sure," said Rob Venette, U.S. Forest Service research biologist, who marked tree stumps Monday and loaded them onto trucks for study. He showed how the zigzag borings of the insect's deadly dining were visible in "galleries" on the trees' bark, a sign of advanced infestation. "It's a frustrating insect because we're always playing catch-up." The confirmation signaled the spread of the tree-killing insect despite control and containment efforts that cost the city $1 million a year. The Summit area discovery wasn't unexpected, but was still disappointing. "It was a matter of when, not if," parks spokesman Brad Meyer said as workers methodically felled trees. "Emerald ash borer is here to stay." The department will now direct more resources to the public trees in the Summit area. Most of the endangered ash trees are not on Summit itself, but extend along numerous blocks parallel to the avenue. Page 1 of 2