Decorah Tree Board will host programs about Emerald Ash Borer

A workshop series on ash trees and Emerald Ash Borer will kickoff at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Decorah City Council chambers, when DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator Emma Hannigan will give a presentation. 

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was first found in Michigan in 2002 and was discovered in Winneshiek County in 2012.  EAB is 100% fatal to Iowa's native ash trees, regardless of size or age. The U.S. Forest service has estimated that there are over 52 million woodland ash trees in our state, and over 3 million trees in urban areas and communities.
 
So what does this mean for Winneshiek County residents? A completed tree inventory of all species in the Right of Way (ROW) indicates Decorah stands to lose 425 trees along its streets. Decorah has implemented an Urban Forestry Plan that manages EAB in the ROW. However, an estimated 1,200 trees will need to be removed on private property at the expense of the landowner. With a removal cost of roughly $800-$2,000 per tree, Decorah citizens will spend over $1.6 million in tree removal over the next 5 years. Establishing EAB management plan for your own ash trees is vital to insure our urban canopy stays safe and healthy.

With the help of grant funding, Decorah's Tree Board has been working to replace trees as they are removed, and has a voucher program to help offset the cost of replacement trees for homeowners -- up to $60 per tree for as many as two trees per year. Last year the Tree Board secured $13,616 in grant funding and donations to plant 105 trees. This year, the Tree Board is focused on community support and is sponsoring a series of workshops to help homeowners identify and plan for EAB.

The Decorah City Forester, Tree Board, and ISU Extension are available to help identify ash trees and signs of EAB infestation, provide treatment options and supply information regarding removal costs and insurance claims.

A second workshop by Field Coordinator for Trees Forever Meredith Borchardt will be held on March 12th, 6:00 pm at the Park Maintenance Shop with a focus on tree pruning and care -- a vital but often overlooked task that is necessary for new and old trees alike. All workshops are free and open to the public.

If you have questions or concerns or want to learn how you can help, please reach out to the City Forester by email cityforester@decorahia.org or phone (563)-277-5153, or stop in the Winneshiek County Extension Office for materials and support.