Annual ash tree replacement program in Barrie hits halfway mark

Simcoe.com
July 17, 2014
By Janis Ramsay

Another 250 ash trees are being removed from Barrie’s streets this summer.

This is the third year of the city's 15-year program to stop he spread of the emerald ash borer, city forestry supervisor Kevin Rankin said.

The replacement program comes with a $1.9-million price tag and will result in the removal of 3,400 ash trees.

The ash borer looks like a grasshopper, but is a shiny green beetle that kills red, green and white ash trees.

Tree removal is occurring in areas with large pockets of younger trees, Rankin said, adding replacements are going into the ground the same day.

“It has an impact, but we're not leaving a gaping hole in the street,” he said.

This year's plan includes subdivisions behind Georgian College, behind Hanmer Street East and in the northwest corner of the city, near Lang and Hodgson drives.

According to Rankin, the beetle hasn't yet been seen here, but the city is continuing to place bug traps on ash trees to help determine how far it has spread.

The pest has invaded Bradford and Rankin said it's only a matter of time until it arrives here.

When it does, he'll be ready to also test out a pesticide in some of the city's large ash trees to see if it prevents their destruction.

In wooded areas, Rankin said the city has started planting smaller trees near ash trees in case they are destroyed.

There are an estimated 180,000 ash trees in city parks and woodlands.