2015-08-04_PR Comm Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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City of Roseville EAB Update July 2015 In March of 2013 the headline read “Emerald Ash Borer has been confirmed in Roseville Minnesota”. The press release continued with “On March 13, 2013, emerald ash borer (EAB) was found in Roseville and then confirmed by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) a few days later. EAB is a serious invasive tree pest that attacks and kills ash trees. The adults are small, iridescent green beetles that live outside of trees during the summer months. The larvae are grub or worm-like and live underneath the bark of ash trees. Trees are killed by the tunneling of the larvae under the tree's bark.” After the initial EAB find, the MDA conducted a late winter survey starting from the original EAB find, looking for sign of the insect on public and private ash trees. The survey work continued in a similar manner each of the next two years, 2014 and 2015. This year, spring of 2015, the insect was found in a few new locations within the city. These finds have increased the EAB-Infestation Zone to almost the entire western half of Roseville starting at Lexington Ave. This means that most every ash tree, in the western half, is within one mile of a confirmed EAB- infested ash tree. See map XXXXXX. The EAB-Infestation Zone, as defined by the MDA, is the area within one-mile of an infested tree. MDA uses a one mile radius based on the actions of the pest and how it spreads. The adult insect starts to emerge from the tree and fly during the summer months starting May 1 until Sept 1. The adult insect can fly several miles in one year but on average they will stay under one mile looking for a new, fresh tree to infest. If you have an ash tree in your yard, you need know that it will become infested with EAB. You have three options: 1. treat the tree with a trunk injection of the pesticide emamectin benzoate which will kill the insect, 2. remove the tree entirely to eliminate the food source, or 3. wait until the tree has an infestation and then remove the tree between Sept 1 through May1. Best time of year to treat an ash tree is in the spring. Trunk injection treatments are recommended to be performed every two years for the life of the tree. As the property owner, you will need to decide which option is best for you. We strongly encourage you to research the options now. Taking action is critical to the slowing the spread of the insect as well as reducing the economic impact on you and the community. The City’s Plan The City of Roseville EAB Management Plan, using Best Management Practices for controlling emerald ash borer, requires that trees positively identified as being infested by EAB on public property be removed. Infested ash trees on public property will be removed by the city. Although some trees on public property that are considered to be in a significant location will be treated. The city is also planning to replant when and where possible. In addition, the City’s plan is similar for private property, allowing removal or treatment. However, if infested trees are found on private property and action is not taken by the property owner, the city will require that the tree be removed at the expense of the property owner.