02-04-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

WS — Item 7 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item No. 7 Date: February 4, 2019 To: City Council From: Marty Asleson Re: Emerald Ash Borer Update Background In the fall of 2017, Emerald Ash borer was found in Lino Lakes for the first time in the Target infiltration ponds. An initial survey, after finding the Target store infested trees, was completed by city staff, county staff, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture staff. Results showed a few scattered additional trees infested with the insect. In the winter of 2017/2018, city staff and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture surveyed the south side of 35W, from the Target infestation, and found EAB infested Ash trees in the closest woodland area to the freeway and extending down to the trail entrance area in back of City Hall. In 2018, staff found new infestation areas of EAB in Country Lakes Park, Lino Park, the Rondeau Lake Road area, 4th Avenue, and the West Shadow Lake Drive area. After summer of 2018, those sites became infested. Removing and replacing boulevard Ash trees started in 2010. Since that time we have removed and replaced about half our boulevard trees and treated 2/3 of the remaining trees. Staff has been methodically selecting areas to treat, remove, and replace trees. Many of the park areas in Lino Lakes have had Ash trees removed. This year Lino Park Ash trees were removed and Country Lakes Park trees are being removed. Country Lakes Park is, by far, the largest holder of Ash trees on public property, other than the Regional Park. The City started treating Ash trees on boulevards in 2017 and 2018. Treatment started before we knew there was an infestation in the City. The treatment started on the side of the city that most of the infestation was showing up later. We have had two years of treating our remaining boulevard trees. Trees not treated at this time are on the east and south sides of the city. Removals or treatment of the remaining untreated areas will continue in 2019. The Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park has thousands of Ash trees and will act as a conduit, vectoring mechanism for the rapid spread of EAB in the upcoming years.