City Continues Removal of Ash Trees Due to Emerald Ash Borers

kingstonherald.com
By Dick Mathison
Dec. 15, 2016

The City of Kingston reports it is continuing this year’s planned removal of marked ash trees on its property to keep it, and the people who use the property, safe from emerald-ash-borer damaged trees.

Approximately 500 trees of the 3,500 total ash trees on city property were slated for removal this year in the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Mitigation Plan.

“These removals are part of our multi-year plan to manage the effects of this invasive beetle that turns ash trees to dust,” said Public Works manager, Troy Stubinski. “Property-owners are reminded that they are responsible for cutting down or treating ash trees on their land.”

Along with this year’s marked tree removal, the City will continue its bi-annual treatment of 600 of the larger, healthy ash trees – a process started two years ago.

Because treatment of all the city’s ash trees is not sustainable and cost-prohibitive, many of them will be removed and replaced with other species in the next few years. Locations for the new planting may vary from the original tree to avoid existing infrastructure, such as power lines.

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an invasive beetle that kills ash trees over a period of two to six years and was confirmed in the Kingston area three years ago.

Adult beetles are generally bright metallic green and about 8.5 millimeters long and is native to eastern Asia. A female can live about six weeks and lay approximately 40 to 70 eggs that hatch within two weeks, with longer living female laying up to 200 eggs.

The full ash tree removal strategy by the City, including how it follows the Migratory Bird Convention Act and where ash trees are being removed and/or treated at, can be read online at CityofKingston.ca/EAB. There is also information there for homeowners to learn how to deal with their own ash trees.