Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan

Transcription

1 Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan

2 Table of Contents I. Introduction 1 II. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) 2 III. Arrival of EAB in Illinois and Buffalo Grove 3 IV. How EAB Impacts Buffalo Grove 3 V. Management of Emerald Ash Borer 5 VI. Wood Utilization 7 VII. Replanting Our Urban Forest 7 VIII. Forestry and Grounds Department 8 IX. Future Challenges with EAB 9 X. Updating the Management Plan 10 XI. Attachments 11

3 MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Village of Buffalo Grove Urban Forestry Program is to proactively manage the municipal urban forest in a professional arboricultural and cost effective manner, providing innovative and effective services to our residents that are designed to preserve and improve the health, safety, and natural beauty of our urban forest.

4 I. Introduction Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a highly destructive, tree-killing insect that has been identified in the Village of Buffalo Grove s urban forest. The unfortunate arrival of EAB will have a serious impact to Buffalo Grove s environment and budget for many years to come. Over one third of the trees in Buffalo Grove s urban forest are in jeopardy. The Village began to prepare for the arrival of EAB in 2002 when it was first discovered in the United States. The purpose of this management plan is to manage EAB through the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Through these principles, the Village can take a fiscally responsible approach to this problem, limiting the hazards to our residents, property, and our environment. The Village of Buffalo Grove has been a Tree City USA for over twenty years. The trees in our urban forest provide many social and economic benefits, often overlooked. According to the USDA Forest Service, some benefits of our trees, include helping cool temperatures in summer, improve real estate values, storm water runoff is reduced, improve air quality, attract wildlife to area, attract shoppers to commercial areas, and contribute to a sense of community pride. These social and economic benefits are the reasons the Village of Buffalo Grove is a desirable place to live and why it has been committed to the care and maintenance of its urban forest. 1

5 II. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Emerald Ash Borer was detected first in the Detroit, Michigan area in June By the time Emerald Ash Borer was discovered in Detroit, many ash trees were in decline and dying at an alarming rate. It has been estimated that EAB went unnoticed for 5-10 years. That is five to ten years that EAB spread to neighboring states through cargo, utilizing wood packing material, transportation of nursery stock and the transportation of firewood. The infestation of EAB has spread to fifteen states and two Canadian provinces by The adult form of Emerald Ash Borer is a dark metallic green beetle about ½ in length and 1/8 wide. The adults can be present in ash trees from April 30 th through September 1 st. This time frame is called the flight season. During this time adult beetles mature while feeding on the ash foliage. The adult beetles (Pic. 1) then mate and lay eggs on branches and on the trunk of trees. The hatched larvae (Pic. 2) bore into the bark reaching the cambial region and phloem where they feed creating serpentine galleries (Pic. 3) under the bark. Pic. 1 Adult EAB Pic. 2 Larva EAB Pic. 3 Serpentine gallery This larval stage causes the most damage and overall death to the ash tree. The serpentine galleries created by the feeding larvae cut off water and food supplies to the tree, causing death. All native ash trees are susceptible to an attack from EAB. Ash native to Illinois, that are susceptible include Green, White, Black, and Blue ash. Emerald Ash Borer does not infest the Mountain-ash, since it is not a true ash species. 2

6 III. Arrival of EAB in Illinois and Buffalo Grove In June of 2006, EAB was first discovered in Illinois, in the yard of a Kane County home. Very soon after, EAB was discovered in a few of the north-shore communities around Chicago. In the years that followed EAB was slowly discovered in more neighboring communities. Then in September of 2009, Emerald Ash Borer was confirmed in Buffalo Grove in the corporate area, on private property, off of Barclay Boulevard. After the discovery of EAB in the Village of Buffalo Grove, an ISA Certified Arborist on staff with the Forestry and Grounds Section began a ground survey in that area. Soon after the survey began, Emerald Ash Borer was confirmed in a parkway tree by the intersection of Joel Lane and Parkchester Road. Six more infested ash trees in that area were soon discovered. In April 2010, twelve more ash trees were discovered with EAB infestation in that area after a more comprehensive survey was conducted with parkway trees nearby. By the end of 2010, over 40 more locations were confirmed to be infested with EAB in Buffalo Grove. The locations discovered in 2010, show that EAB is confirmed in areas all through the Village. IV. How EAB Impacts Buffalo Grove The Village of Buffalo Grove maintains 20,446 trees in the parkways and Village owned properties. The tree population is made up of 73 different species, with an estimated value of $30,131,275. The value of public trees in the Village of Buffalo Grove is determined to be $ per inch of Diameter at Breast Height (DBH). The tree inventory is updated as the Forestry and Grounds Section trim in cycle, and as work order trimming is completed. 3

7 Ash (Fraxinus), Maple (Acer), and Locust (Gleditsia) trees make up the majority of Buffalo Grove s urban forest. The ash tree was the most planted tree in the Village and has not been planted in a Village parkway or Village owned property since Ash (Fraxinus) trees make up approximately 34% of all trees in the Village, with an approximate value of $11,546,100. The ash tree population in the Village of Buffalo Grove consists of five different species of ash. Green ash is responsible for 79% of our ash population. White ash is second with 19%. Common ash, Black ash, and Blue ash each represent one percent or less of Buffalo Grove s ash population. The ash tree has been popular for many years because of a brilliant fall color and rapid growth rate. For these reasons the ash tree has been available at nurseries and garden centers for many years at affordable prices. The Village of Buffalo Grove does not have an inventory of trees on private properties. This makes it difficult to determine an actual number of private ash trees. It has been estimated by some communities that there can be a ratio of two private ash trees for every one ash tree in the parkway. With this ratio, there are approximately 13,580 privately owned ash trees in Buffalo Grove. All ash trees in Buffalo Grove are susceptible to the Emerald Ash Borer. With this in mind, the control of EAB in our parkways and Village owned properties will be more difficult. The loss of trees in our urban forest can potentially be very high. 4

8 V. Management of Emerald Ash Borer Village Parkways and Village Owned Properties The goal of this plan is to take a methodical, proactive approach to slow the spread of EAB in Buffalo Grove. This plan is to serve as a guide to manage the parkway ash trees and other Village owned ash trees. Two facts will be recognized in this plan. 1. Ash trees on public property that are infested or show signs of distress promote the spread of Emerald Ash Borer to other healthy trees, therefore must be removed. 2. The removal of ash trees will forever alter the landscape of Buffalo Grove. A diverse reforestation is essential where ash trees have been removed. This will help emphasize our commitment to the environment and maintain the appeal of our community. All parkway ash trees and Village owned ash trees identified with EAB will be removed. Every ash tree trimmed by the Forestry and Grounds Section is checked for EAB. If Emerald Ash Borer is identified, the tree will be removed or marked to be removed within a reasonable timeframe of notice or identification. Residents will be notified by either three forms of communication. Personal Contact --- A member of the Forestry and Grounds Section will knock or ring door bell to notify resident that the ash tree or trees will be removed from parkway Door Tag --- If contact is not made at front door, a door tag will be hung from front door with a brief description stating that tree or trees was identified with EAB and removal was necessary. Mailing --- If multiple ash trees in an area are identified with EAB and need to be removed, a formal letter will be sent to the residents in the area that have ash trees in their parkway. This letter will state an estimated time of removal, stump grinding, and future replacement. After ash trees have been removed, stumps will be ground within a reasonable timeframe, before replanting occurs. The parkway area will be restored with black dirt, seed, and a seed blanket. Trees will be planted in the order they were removed, as budget allocation allows, in fall of each year. Many ash trees have been identified with Emerald Ash Borer through work order trimming. Work order trims are done per request of the resident. Residents are encouraged to generate a work order when they feel their parkway tree needs trimming, or if they see a broken or dangerous branch. These work orders are completed by the Forestry and Grounds Section in the order they are called in. Since work orders are random, scouting for Emerald Ash Borer throughout the 5

9 Village of Buffalo Grove can be completed in several locations per day. Because of these work orders, EAB has been identified throughout the Village of Buffalo Grove. There are two subdivisions in the Village of Buffalo Grove identified with high infestations of EAB. The removal of all ash trees in the parkways of these subdivisions will be necessary for The Mayfair/Vernon subdivision, located in Cook County, has 40% ash in the parkway. The total number of ash to be removed in this area is 152. The Newtown/Parkchester subdivision, located in Lake County has 38% ash in the parkway. There will be 93 ash trees removed in this area. The removal of all ash in these two subdivisions will not only help us slow down the spread of Emerald Ash Borer, but it will help quantify how productively this many tree can be removed. This mass removal will help gauge how much debris is generated. As the graph indicates, the ash trees in Buffalo Grove are fairly young. The majority of ash in the Village is less than 12 DBH. It has been estimated the removal of all ash in the Village of Buffalo Grove will cost $1,313,708. Removal of the stumps of these trees will cost an estimated $540,444. It is inevitable that we will remove all ash in the Village of Buffalo Grove. By removing ash in smaller sections, we can spread these costs over multiple years, making the economic impact less painful. At this time all ash removals will be conducted by the Forestry and Grounds Section. Privately Owned Ash Trees The Village of Buffalo Grove does not remove or treat trees on private property. However, Buffalo Grove recognizes the fact that many businesses and residences have ash trees on their properties. Home owners and businesses are urged to call the Public Works Forestry and Grounds Section if they suspect their ash tree has Emerald Ash Borer. 6

10 If EAB is clearly detected in an ash tree on private property, the Director of Public Works or designee shall serve notice to remove the infested tree within thirty days of service of notice. If owner refuses to remove or destroy the infested tree, the Village may proceed to remove or destroy the infested tree on private property. The service of notice shall be by personal service or certified mail, addressed to the owner at his/her last known address. EAB Compliance Agreement The Village of Buffalo Grove entered into an EAB compliance agreement with the Illinois Department of Agriculture in November 21 st The compliance agreement requires the Village of Buffalo Grove to take necessary precautions to minimize and control the spread of EAB. Compliant agencies commit to contacting anyone giving, selling, or receiving ash or other hardwood, to inform them of the EAB quarantine area and the resulting restrictions on wood movement. VI. Wood Utilization The Village of Buffalo Grove has made contact with two companies nearby, in efforts to better utilize the ash wood generated from the potential of mass removals. G.H. Woodworking in Wauconda Horigan Urban Forest Products, Inc. in Skokie It is our hope to forge a relationship with companies who can utilize the timber from our trees. Buffalo Grove will benefit by saving man hours in chipping and removal if these companies haul away large sections of trees at no charge. We will also save space as our wood debris will be quite extensive. The harvested wood can be put to uses other than space in a landfill. VII. Replanting Our Urban Forest The reforestation of our community is a chance to take a horrible situation and make it benefit the Village of Buffalo Grove. To make our urban forest strong, and protect it against unusual pests and weather, many forestry experts recommend the rule. Our urban forest should contain no more than 10 percent of any species, no more than 20 percent of any genus, and no more than 30 percent of any family. With this in mind, our current ash population is way out of line with these recommendations. By eventually removing and replacing all ash trees in Buffalo Grove, we can provide a more stable and sustainable urban forest. 7

11 The 2011 Budget shows $35,000 for annual tree replacement. The Village of Buffalo Grove is currently looking in to the possibility of a federal grant for EAB replacement trees. Replacement parkway trees are currently planted at a 2.5 diameter with a value of approximately $ Tree diversification must become a priority when replanting. Selection of trees for replanting must be based on the type of trees that already exist in the parkways. Allowing more of the same trees we already have will only boost those percentages to alarming levels. When pest problems arrive, (Dutch Elm Disease or Emerald Ash Borer) species diversification is important. A diverse urban forest is less vulnerable to catastrophic losses that impact the community s appearance and budgets. VIII. Forestry and Grounds Section The Village of Buffalo Grove s Forestry and Grounds Section is one of many sections in Public Works. In addition to regularly assigned tasks and duties, employees may be called upon to perform any type of emergency work such as snow removal, flooding, and water main breaks. The department consists of ten full time employees, three of whom work more with grounds maintenance. This staff is responsible for the Village s trees, green spaces, and natural areas. Four of the Forestry and Grounds Section full time employees are Certified Arborists, through the International Society of Arboriculture certification program. These arborists stay up to date each year with arboricultural knowledge as they obtain annual CEU s. One of the Certified Arborists on staff has a B.S. in Urban Forestry from Western Illinois University. The Forestry and Grounds Section is focused on training and education to develop knowledge and expertise as the arboricultural field is always developing. The Forestry and Grounds Section also has specialized forestry for the care of our urban forest. This equipment includes two aerial lift trucks, two brush chippers, and one stump grinder. A five ton truck is converted from plow truck to water truck in the 8

12 spring/summer months. There are attachments available for the Bobcat, backhoe, and front end loader that make the movement of logs easier as well. Smaller specialized power equipment used by Forestry and Grounds Section includes four top handle arborist chain saws, three larger chain saws for large wood cutting, and two medium size chain saws used more for a variety of tasks. Two hand held blowers and a powerful back pack blower are available for quick clean up. The Forestry and Grounds Section has prepared for EAB in Smaller equipment has been purchased to make the removal of larger trees safer and more productive. Rigging equipment is specialized to the arboricultural industry. Rigging equipment recently purchased includes ropes, pulleys, and a lowering device. This gear outfits one lift truck with basic essentials to make removal of large trees safer. IX. Future Challenges with EAB The Emerald Ash Borer s arrival in Buffalo Grove is just the beginning of many challenges. As time goes on, the infestation will become much worse, therefore becoming more time consuming as each year passes. Every EAB discovery in the Village will demand more time. The services already provided by the Forestry and Grounds Section will soon suffer as the need to slow the spread of EAB increases. Emerald Ash Borer will multiply faster than we can control it. An increase in specialized forestry equipment may be needed. A larger stump grinder will be necessary to continue to grind the larger stumps on a consistent and productive level. There may even be a need for another brush chipper added to the fleet that is grapple equipped, to simplify the disposal of larger trees. More arborist rigging equipment will be necessary to equip the other lift truck with basic essentials to remove larger trees safely. The increased work load of removals will mean that the operation of small power equipment will be vital. Another challenge the Village faces with EAB is the cost to replant our urban forest. As the years progress, our data will show that we are removing trees at a faster rate than we can afford to replant them. A possible solution is increasing the budget for the replanting of Emerald Ash Borer removals. Another consideration for the future, is revising our ordinance to allow us to plant smaller trees. The planting of smaller trees could afford us, in some cases, twice as many trees as we were initially planting at a 2.5 diameter. This option could open the idea for a cost/share with the residents who want to step up to a larger tree size for replanting. Smaller trees also establish better after transplanting, and can even grow faster in the first years after planting. An idea that might help with a smaller percentage of replanting is to coordinate with Com Ed to remove all ash under power lines throughout the Village of Buffalo Grove. Removal of trees under power lines will make us eligible to participate in a cost share program with Com Ed for the replacement of lower growing species of trees in those areas. 9

13 A challenge for the Forestry and Grounds Section is to update the tree inventory to determine a more accurate analysis of EAB in our community. Program revisions to the inventory itself will be necessary to access data in a more productive manner. The tree inventory itself is updated as maintenance is performed on the trees. There are areas in the Village that have not been updated for over ten years. A current update of the entire inventory will be necessary for the control of EAB, diversifying our urban forest, and projecting future costs related to Emerald Ash Borer. X. Updating the Management Plan The Village of Buffalo Grove s Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan will be reviewed by the Director of Public Works or designee on an annual basis. This review is vital to keep current as how the plan corresponds to our current infestation levels. All changes will be brought to the Village Board for consent and advice. The Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan will be brought to the Village Board after three years from the date of acceptance for a comprehensive review. 10