10/27/2009 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Agenda Item 2 • • Environmental Board Meeting Date: October 27, 2009 Topic: Joint Environmental Board /Park Board Meeting to Discuss The Pending Emerald Ash Borer Issue. Background: Emerald Ash Borer was introduced into this country in the year 2003 through shipments from Asia. It was found in Detroit and efforts to stop this pest have failed. On May 14, 2009 the insect was found in the City of St. Paul. Ramsey County is currently under a quarantine on the movement of all Ash wood. A 15 mile radius of neighborhood watch zone or buffer (Attachment 1), was established to monitor for the Emerald Ash Borer. As you can see Lino Lakes is in this buffer area. Although no insects have been found in trap -trees or purple traps, it is a matter of time before Lino Lakes will be faced with 3 choices: 1. The City can Remove all Ash trees that die 2. The City can remove and replace those Ash trees, 3. The City can treat Ash trees to prevent them from dying. City Staff and Community volunteers have recently inventoried all Ash trees in City Parks, in City street boulevards, and on Peltier Island where approximately 50% of the habitat trees for nesting Great Blue Herons are Ash. Results are presented in (Attachment 2). For the most part, the City stopped planting Ash trees after news - releases of the pest first started coming out in 2003 Mr. Rob Gordon, Executive Director of Arborjet, Inc. is here to talk to you about the chemical treatment of Ash trees and has a wealth of information on the benefit/cost of all options. Analysis: City Staff would like direction from the City concerning the 3 options mentioned above. Since it is given that we will face this pest in the near future, preparations and operations we can initiate now can save trees and money. Recommendations and Comments To be recorded at the Environmental /Park Board Meeting Attachments 1. Map 2. Ash Tree Inventory