Clarington struggling to keep up with infected ash trees
Beetle infestation expected to claim 3,500 trees on municipal land

durhamregion.com
Jan. 16, 2016
By Jennifer O'Meara

The predicted attack on Clarington’s ash trees is now well underway, and all 3,500 trees on municipal land will become infested with the emerald ash borer beetle, die and have to be cut down over the next four years.

“What we’re getting involved in is quite scary,” said Robert Genosko, Clarington operations supervisor.

Courtice has been hard hit. Residents of Circlefield, Found and Brownstone courts have raised concerns about failing ash trees.

“In Courtice area, especially towards the south end, it’s probably one of the most biggest concerns I get - especially in inclement weather - is these trees falling over,” said Councillor Steven Cooke.

Decades ago ash trees were the popular replacement for elm trees which were being wiped out by disease. Ash do well in dry or wet areas and were well-suited for boulevards. Many municipalities had entire streets landscaped with them.

“We’re very fortunate because our planning department in the past did not do very many mono-culture streets,” said Mr. Genosko. “There are a few streets in Courtice that were all ash, but it’s not the norm.”

The emerald ash borer beetle has been moving across southern Ontario for years. There is no proven effective treatment or deterrent. The beetle was first spotted in Pickering in 2008. By 2012 it had made its way to Clarington. The beetle population explodes after the third year of the initial sighting.

“If one (tree) has it, chances are the others have it...It’s only a matter of time before it shows the signs,” said Mr. Genosko.

In 2015 large numbers of ash trees in Clarington were dying, raising safety and property concerns if they should fall. The operations department ordered the removal and replacement of 240 trees last year. The department took $99,141 from its gravel patch and resurfacing account to cover the over-expenditure in the brush and tree budget.

Currently 3,000 ash remain. It will cost approximately $500,000 to get rid of the infected trees. Replanting trees on boulevards could cost approximately $750,000. The municipality wants to spread the work and cost out over the next four years. If the operations department gets council pre-budget approval, contractors will soon begin the 2016 work of clearing 830 infected ash trees.