Fighting back against Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer has infested ash trees "basically through the whole Flat (of Decorah)," says City Forester Drew Stevenson.

Stevenson and City Street Superintendent Kevin Nelson Monday night gave a report to the Decorah City Council about the extent of EAB damage in the city.  The two men have been surveying trees in the First Ward, finding 32 ash trees in the Flat.  Stevenson told city council members a complete inventory of every tree in Decorah needs to be made for future reference, so city officials can decide which new trees to plant when ash trees begin dying.

There have already been nearly two dozen trees in the Flat that are marked for potential removal.  Stevenson says removing the trees and planting new trees as replacements should be the approach taken by the city.  He believes many of the city's ash trees have already been infected by EAB for three or four years.  Since ash trees infected with EAB general die in years 7 to 10 of their infection, the number of dead ash trees could be increasing in another few years.

City/County IT worker Jon Lubke has modified a Survey 1-2-3 form for iPads, making it easier for city officials to take down information about trees.  City Manager Chad Bird calls the software "a very user-friendly app."