Info and demonstration
In response to the discovery of Emerald Ash Borer in the City of Madison last fall, and in working through the approved EAB Plan, the City of Madison Forestry crews have begun working to treat and protect as many of the street ash trees as possible. Mayor Soglin will join City of Madison Forestry crews for a demonstration of chemical injection treatment of ash trees as well as planting Princeton Sentry Ginkgo, Skyline Honeylocust and New Horizon Elm trees to assist in the diversification of our
urban forest.
Chemical Injection and Tree Planting Demonstration:
When: Friday, June 13, 2014 at 10:00a.m.
Where: 11 South Hancock Street
In November 2013, EAB was confirmed in the Warner Park area. The City of Madison has been working on its tactical response to EAB since 2008. An Emerald Ash Borer Taskforce, including representatives of Madison Parks, Forestry, Mayor’s office, City Streets Division, and City Fleet Division, was created to coordinate assessment of the EAB threat, plan various response strategies, review the latest research and act to mitigate impacts on the city’s tree canopy, ensure public safety, protect the environment and contain costs. The EAB Plan was approved by the Common Council in September 2012 and updated in September 2013.
Link to City of Madison Emerald Ash Borer Website
The City of Madison has an estimated 21,700 publicly owned street (terrace) ash trees, and unknown number of ash trees in parks and thousands more on private property. Since the discovery in 2013, the forestry section has been following the approved implementation plan for public street trees:
1. Madison Parks Forestry continued to do branch sampling around the city. Besides the north and east side locations, no further infestations were discovered at this time.
2. Forestry staff evaluated which trees on the north and east side affected areas (see attached map)will need to be removed and which trees may be chemically treated later in the spring. Staff put letters on each of the affected household’s doorknobs during the inspection. The tree(s) that will require removal will be marked with a yellow dot on the street side of the trunk.
The tree(s) will be removed due to one or more of the following criteria:
– Tree is structurally compromised or in poor condition
– Tree is located under high voltage electrical distribution line
– Tree is a vision hazard or in a poor location
– Tree trunk measures less than 10” in diameter at 4.5 feet (dbh) from the ground
3. In the spring the city will implement a chemical treatment program for trees that are in healthy condition and over 10 inches diameter. The City of Madison Forestry section anticipates being able to treat and hopefully save approximately 60% of the street ash tree population. The city will use the injection treatments versus soil drench treatments to ensure the protection of ground and surface water quality.
4. Madison Parks began an “Adopt-a-Park Tree” program for private citizens to help save, at their own expense, a publicly-owned ash tree in a Madison park. For more information on how you can adopt a Park Tree, visit:
http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/services/forestry/pests/EAB/AdoptaParkTree.cfm
5. Going forward, Madison Parks Forestry will replant publicly-owned trees in most locations. If people would like to help support this undertaking, a specific fund has been created with the Madison Parks Foundation.
http://madisonparksfoundation.org/support-the-parks/how-to-give/
What can Homeowners do about their own privately-owned trees:
1. Visit these websites for detailed information:
– http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/services/forestry/pests/EAB/toolkit.cfm
– www.emeraldashborer.wi.gov
2. Keep a close watch on ash trees for signs of possible EAB infestation: thinning canopy, D-shaped holes in the bark, new branches sprouting low on the truck, cracked bark and woodpeckers pulling at the bark to get to insect larvae beneath it.
3. Call a Certified Arborist for expert advice.
4. If you are considering preventative treatment, the city of Madison encourages you to use the injection method rather than the soil drench method in order to protect our lakes and ground water.
As Madison officials continue to work on the Emerald Ash Borer infestation, please visit the Madison Parks Forestry EAB website:
http://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/services/forestry/pests/EAB/
