Decorah Park-Rec to begin cutting down ash trees

The Emerald Ash Borer

The Decorah Parks & Recreation Department will begin cutting down some ash trees in city parks this fall and winter as a preventative measure against the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer.

Iowa now has 13 infested counties, including Allamakee County--but not Winneshiek County.

A statewide quarantine restricting the movement of hardwood firewood, ash logs, wood chips and ash tree nursery stock remains in place in Iowa.

Decorah Park-Rec Director Andy Nimrod says the ash tree cutting program is being started based on "professional guidance" that replacing the trees with other varieties of trees is the best approach to take.