Emerald Ash Borer damage will cost the region $8 million

570news.com
Nov. 19, 2014
By Mary Cranston

It’s a small bug that is causing significant damage.

The Emerald Ash Borer Beetle has made its way through southwestern Ontario killing thousands of trees and costing municipalities millions of dollars.

The Beetle has even affected trees at the Grand River Conservation authorities head office.

Spokesperson for GRCA Dave Schultz spoke with 570 News.

“The Emerald Ash Borer gets into ash trees and eats away at them. Overtime, the tree will start to decay and can be knocked over from a high wind or an ice storm which poses a risk to people and properties.”

Schultz says they have conducted a survey of all the trees that have been affected.

“We’ve identified about nine thousand trees on our property that will have to be brought down in coming years and we still are not finished doing our inventory.”

Schultz says so far the estimated cost is 8 million dollars to cut down the affected trees. He adds its a constant problem they have no control over.