Milton commissioning town-wide tree inventory and more EAB treatments

InsideHalton.com
July 3, 2017
Melanie Hennessey

A surplus in the Town’s Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) budget is being put to use on other local trees.

After only having to spend about half of the $1.3 million budgeted this year to address the pest invading local ash trees, staff received approval from council last week to redirect some of the funds to the completion of a comprehensive town-wide tree inventory.

A portion of the money will also be used to support an additional TreeAzin insecticide treatment for 250 ash trees.

A report from Commissioner of Engineering Services Paul Cripps explains the savings were realized due to a competitive bid process and reduction in the number of trees that actually need to be removed from 1,500 to about 850.

The tree inventory is expected to cost $200,000, while the extra insecticide treatments come with an estimated price tag of $42,000.

In addition to urban Milton, the inventory will include the Hwy. 401 business park, rural areas, hamlets, woodlots and various Town-owned land parcels.

“This tree inventory can then be used to better allot resources to eradicate the remaining EAB problem as efficiently and effectively as possible,” states the report from Cripps.

It goes on to recommend that some of the surplus be used to address all hazardous and rapidly declining trees, both ash and non-ash, as prioritized through the inventory process.

During the council meeting, Local and Regional Councillor Colin Best thanked staff for the additional treatment work and asked them to look into another invasive species, the Pacific Pine Beetle, and potential treatments that may be appropriate before it hits Milton.

Residents may have noticed Town crews working on EAB tree assessments and markings this spring. Green markings indicate continued TreeAzin treatment for the tree, while white markings designate trees that have been slated for removal and replacement.

TreeAzin slows the decline of the trees and helps preserve the canopy until they eventually have to be removed and replaced over the next two to three years.

This year’s work will focus on the Beaty, Clarke, Dempsey and Coates neighbourhoods.

Along Milton’s streets, ash trees that are removed will be replaced with plantings scheduled from September to November, with minor plantings potentially continuing into spring 2018, depending on species availability and optimum planting time for different species.

Although tiny, measuring about half the size of a dime, Emerald Ash Borers have been silently killing hundreds of local trees. And within the next two years, Town experts estimate the EAB will destroy most of the ash species in Milton.

Residents on streets where ash trees on public property are affected will receive a door hanger alerting them of upcoming tree removals and replanting.

The hangers also educate citizens on the EAB, explaining that the highly invasive pest feeds on the vascular tissues of the ash, resulting in the tree losing its ability to use water and nutrients and eventually dying.

Any affected trees that aren’t on Town property are the responsibility of the property owner. Residents who are unsure whether an affected tree is on their property or the Town’s, or those with other questions can contact the Engineering Services department at 905-878-7252, ext. 2500.

For more information on the Town’s EAB strategy visit www.milton.ca/EAB.