Urban Forest

[UrbanWaterloo]

Urban Forest

Topics Of Interest

Emerald Ash Borer
www.eabwaterlooregion.ca
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Section (http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/agrpla/agrplae.shtml)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_ash_borer

<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Agrilus_planipennis_001.jpg/304px-Agrilus_planipennis_001.jpg" width="101px" height="200px">

[UrbanWaterloo]

EMERALD ASH BORER PREPAREDNESS PLAN
REPORT TO: Community Services Committee
DATE OF REPORT: May 27, 2010 | DATE OF MEETING: June 7, 2010
SUBMITTED BY: Jim Witmer, Director of Operations
PREPARED BY: David Schmitt MES, Environmental and Urban Forest Project Manager
REPORT NO.: CSD-10-036 (http://www.kitchener.ca/Files/Item/item19192_csd-10-036_-_emerald_ash_borer_preparedness_plan.pdf)

RECOMMENDATION:
That an Emerald Ash Borer Strategy \ Management Plan ($175,000) be included in the 2011 Capital Budget approval process; and,
That staff review options to advance the approved 2014\15 Park Tree Inventory to begin in 2011; and further,
That a 10 year Capital and Operating budget plan be developed to actively manage Emerald Ash Borer.

BACKGROUND: Since 2004, with additional updates in 2005 and 2008, staff has been updating Council on the forthcoming impacts of Emerald Ash Borer(EAB). EAB is a federally quarantined and invasive tree pest that affects all ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). EAB was introduced from Asia to the Windsor\Detroit area in 2002. This tree pest is considered to be one of the most damaging pests ever introduced to North America and is causing catastrophic tree loss. Since 2002 EAB has spread from Michigan into the Great Lakes Basin to New York State, and expanded its range in Ontario and entered Quebec. Millions of trees have already been killed. In Kitchener EAB will have a significant impact on the City’s street trees, natural areas, active parks and private property. In 2009 the City hired Urban Forest Innovations Inc. to prepare an Emerald Ash Borer Preparedness Plan. This report is a summary of the draft plan. With the completion of the street tree inventory, staff and its consultant are able to now calculate the financial cost of EAB in terms of lost value\benefit, removal and replanting costs for the City’s street trees.

REPORT:

In the 2008 update staff informed Council that EAB had spread to London (Middlesex County) and had been confirmed in the City of Toronto. EAB has now expanded east of London and expanded its range significantly in the Greater Toronto Area with confirmed infestations from Durham to Niagara. Kitchener is now surrounded by EAB. Experts consider this area a high risk area. Since EAB is typically not found until the 4th or 5th year, there is a high likelihood that EAB is already in this area. During the tree inventory ash trees showing signs of decline were flagged, and a number of areas were investigated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. To date none of these investigations have found EAB in the City.

Research and the experience of municipalities (e.g. Windsor) already impacted by EAB indicate that most ash trees are dead within ten years. Since detection does not usually occur until the 4th or 5th year, population levels have already peaked and dispersed through the city by the time EAB is confirmed. This leaves very little time for a municipality to react before it is faced with catastrophic tree loss. Dead trees along city streets, in active parks and along trails in natural areas are a public safety issue that must be addressed.

The street tree inventory, completed in 2009, identified 4,522 ash trees along residential streets. With 100% tree mortality expected, the cost to remove (3 million) and replant (1.75 million) ash trees along city streets will be 4.75 million dollars over ten years. Density mapping of the ash trees shows that some parts of the city will be more impacted than others.

The 4.75 million does not include any costs for EAB in the City’s 1,550 hectares (3,830 acres) park system, including active parkland (> 650 hectares) and natural areas (> 900 hectares). The required information to calculate such costs is not available. The cost to address dead ash trees in the City’s parkland is expected to also be significant. The City of Burlington estimates that EAB will cost them 11.5 million dollars over ten years.

EAB is a federally regulated tree pest. To date the federal government has not provided financial support to any affected municipalities. The provincial government has also not provided any funding to municipalities. Therefore, the City must plan to cover all EAB costs within its own budgets. With the lack of leadership and support from the federal and provincial governments the City will be responsible for informing and assisting the community. It is expected that the City will incur additional costs for communication, stewardship, bylaw enforcement and property standards, on private lands.

In addition to the cost to remove and replant trees killed by EAB, there is also the lost value and benefits that ash trees provide to the community. Scientific research shows that trees in urban areas provide important social, public health, environmental and economic benefits to the community. Using the street tree inventory data and a scientific model developed by the United States Forest Service (i-Tree Streets) the value and benefits that the 4,522 ash trees along city streets was calculated. On an annual basis these ash trees provide $307,792 of free environmental services in terms of air pollution mitigation, carbon sequestration, and storm water management. Without considering the growth of these trees, and the fact these benefits increase with tree size – the existing ash population along city streets will provide more than 3.0 million dollars of free environmental services over ten years. Using the replacement value (value is focused on social\economic benefits) developed by the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers these same ash trees have an assessed value of 5.2 million dollars. Therefore, the total lost value\benefit, removal and replanting costs for the City’s ash trees will be in excess of 7.75 million dollars over the next ten years. Considering the direct and indirect costs associated with just the City’s street trees, it is clear that the full impact of EAB to Kitchener will be significant.

Until recently the options municipalities had to manage EAB were limited. With advances in technology (hyperspectral imagery), sampling techniques (statistical branch sampling) and management techniques (chemical treatment, aggressive tree removal) municipalities are being given new tools and techniques to manage\defer costs, and options to protect parts of their ash population. Today, the city has a number of management options it can consider.

The least engaged approach – crisis management – would be to do nothing until trees die and require removal. Cost estimates indicate that this option will cost the City 4.75 million dollars just for the street trees. This approach also does not give municipalities the option to manage or defer their costs. During the peak mortality period of EAB, Operations will not be able to keep up with the removals of dead ash trees and its regular tree services (customer service requests, pruning, other tree removals, plantings, stumping). Many of these areas already have significant backlogs, and are expected to get significantly worse when EAB peaks.

Staff recommends that the City take an active approach to EAB, with the objectives being: 1) to manage\defer EAB costs; 2) minimize impacts on other tree services provided to the community; 3) fill data gaps by moving forward the active parkland tree inventory and carrying out hyperspectral imagery for public and private lands – to identify the location of ash trees City wide; 4) monitor EAB utilizing the new branch sampling technique; 5) evaluate opportunities to protect part of the existing ash population; 6) determine the City’s management approach and level of active management through chemical control and pro-active removals; 7) develop a communications strategy; 8) determine the level of City support for private lands; 9) develop a ten year budget; and 10) develop an EAB Strategy\Management Plan. Staff is requesting that new capital funding be provided in 2011 to develop the EAB Strategy and Management Plan, that the approved park tree inventory be move forward to 2011, and that staff return in 2011 with a ten year capital and operating plan. Recognizing the impact these budget requests will have, staff wanted to make Council aware of this issue prior to the budget process.

This fall\winter Operations plans to use the recently developed branch sampling technique developed by the Canadian Forest Service. This early detection method has been found to have a 90% success rate. Used successfully in Oakville and Burlington this tool will allow the city to pro-actively manage EAB. Costs for this sampling work will be covered under existing operating and capital budgets by the re-direction of existing resources to complete this work.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The financial impacts of EAB on the City will be significant. If EAB is not already in this area it will be in the next few years. The purpose of this report is to make Council and senior management aware of this issue and its potential impact on capital and operating budgets over the next 10–15 years.

[myfaceisonfire]

I have a beautiful White Ash in front of my house and will be devistated when the borer gets here and wipes it out. It's already in London and Norfolk, and maybe closer. It seems inevitable.

[van Hemessen]

There are insecticides that work on the individual tree level, but they're super expensive and impossible to apply across an entire city.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and the County of Oxford, Ontario
Ottawa | August 23, 2010 | Link (http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/newcom/2010/20100823e.shtml)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo in the Highway 401 and Fountain Street area and in the County of Oxford, Ontario, along Highway 401 near Oxford County Road 3.

Movement restrictions on regulated wood materials will be placed on the affected properties and the owners will be notified. Further regulatory measures will be considered once survey work is completed for the year.

Although the EAB does not pose a risk to human health, it is a highly destructive beetle that has already killed a large number of ash trees in Ontario and north eastern U.S., and it poses a major economic threat to urban and forested areas of North America. There have been numerous finds of this pest in Ontario and Quebec.

The emerald ash borer can spread rapidly if moved by people. The key challenge in limiting the spread of this beetle is to prevent people from moving potentially infested ash materials - such as logs, branches, nursery stock, wood chips and firewood of all species - to non-infested areas. The public can play a key part in helping to control the spread of EAB by avoiding actions that would promote its spread.

The CFIA continues to work with provincial and municipal governments and other stakeholders towards slowing the spread of the EAB. We all have a responsibility to protect Canada's forests.

Additional information is available on the CFIA web site (http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/pestravae.shtml) at www.inspection.gc.ca/pests or by calling 1-866-463-6017.

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/agrpla/mc/201008canada.gif (http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/pestrava/agrpla/regrestrice.shtml)

[UrbanWaterloo]

Update: Emerald Ash Borer
March 25, 2011 | City of Waterloo | Link (http://www.waterloo.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=78&mid=526&def=News%20Article%20View&ItemId=1518)

The following media release was issued today by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA):

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is taking further action to slow the spread of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) in Canada by increasing the regulated areas. This increase is due to new detections of this beetle in 2010. The CFIA will invoke one ministerial order that includes all regulated areas in Ontario and Quebec.

The ministerial order empowers the CFIA to regulate the movement of all ash tree materials and all firewood from specific areas of Ontario and Quebec. This is important because this is a key way the pest is spread. Those who move these materials from the regulated areas without prior permission from the CFIA could face fines and/or prosecution.

The regulated area for Ottawa and Gatineau has been expanded to include the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville in Ontario, and all of Ottawa.

In southern Ontario, it was determined that the most effective way to regulate is to amalgamate into one regulated area all the cities, counties and municipalities where EAB has been discovered. This will help the movement of ash materials within the regulated area.

The amalgamated regulated area in southern Ontario includes Hamilton, Toronto, the Regional Municipalities of Chatham-Kent, Durham, York, Peel, Halton, Niagara and Waterloo and the Counties of Brant (including the City of Brantford), Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxford, Perth and Wellington.

Regulated areas for Sault Ste. Marie, ON and the regulated area which includes the Municipalities of Carignan, Chambly, Richelieu, Saint-Basile-le-Grand and Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu, in Québec remain unchanged.

Although the EAB does not pose a risk to human health, it is a highly destructive beetle that has already killed a large number of ash trees in Ontario and the north eastern United States. It poses a major economic threat to urban and forested areas of North America.

The CFIA will continue to work with its partners and stakeholders towards slowing the spread of EAB.

[KevinL]

City crews were doing branch pruning on the boulevard trees on my street last week, most of which are ash. I had a chance to chat with one guy, he said we can expect maybe 5 more years from them but then they'll be gone. :RpS_sad:

[panamaniac]

Brings back sad memories of the loss of the beautiful elm trees. :RpS_sad:

[UrbanWaterloo]

Plans to address local spread of emerald ash borer
March 05, 2012 | City of Kitchener | Link (http://www.kitchener.ca/en/newslist/index.aspx?newsId=8hwXOx0k15lA5HiETOnNdE0BsgeQuAle QuAl)

With the results of a winter tree sampling showing the presence of emerald ash borer is on the rise locally, the City of Kitchener is preparing to take measures to help mitigate the spread of the tree pest.

Since it was discovered in south Kitchener in 2010, the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) has been actively monitored by city staff.

This year, 380 city ash trees were sampled in 37 plots across the city. The results have shown that EAB is now well-established in Ward 4, and also present in Ward 6.

Nineteen infested trees were found this year - a considerable increase compared to one tree in 2010. Significant EAB larva was also found in the trees sampled.

“The results show that the population is building prior to its exponential growth. It should also be noted that staff believe the new find in Ward 6 has been present for as long as the earlier finds in Ward 4,” said David Schmitt, the city’s environmental and urban forestry project manager.

The city’s current practice is to remove ash trees once they are infested. This approach helps to slow the spread of the tree pest, and assist in managing the costs of controlling EAB. The city will remove the infested trees after March 19.

Working with the Canadian Forest Service (CFS), the city will be removing another 12 to 15 small trees -- less than 25 cm in height -- in Ward 4 to assist with scientific research. This work will start the week of March 12.

New trees will be planted once a master tree planting plan is completed with public input.

[UrbanWaterloo]

iTree Eco study begins
City of Kitchener | Link (http://www.kitchener.ca/en/newslist/index.aspx?corpId=I82X5exjK422E8HPlUsqZdAJgeQuAleQ uAl&newsId=duw6IzVvm36SbybnDgA0IweQuAleQuAl)

Starting in early June and through the summer, the city will be collecting data for its iTree Eco study, a model developed by the United States Forest Service. Kitchener will use the study results to identify the benefits of the urban forest, assist in developing an urban forest strategy (2012-13) and to identify the full impact of emerald ash borer.

“iTree Eco allows us to collect information about our urban forests, and share then share that information with the community,” said David Schmitt, urban forest project manager for the city. “It’s also an opportunity for the community to learn about the environmental benefits and value of their urban forest.”

The information collected on public and private lands (with the permission of property owners) during one field visit, includines the following:

The percentage of tree cover
Types of tree species
The diameter of trees
The height of trees
The width of the crown
The percentage of missing tree canopy,
The amount of dieback,
The direction and distance of the trees to buildings.

All iTree Eco plots are randomly selected by a computer program. To achieve a statistically valid study, 240 sample plots (0.4 hectares in size) on private and public lands are required across the city.

To further improve the accuracy, plot selection is weighted by the land classes (e.g. residential, commercial, industrial, public parks, open space, institutional, agriculture, major infrastructure) established for this study. Urban forests have a number of economic, environmental and social benefits including:mproving air quality

Capturing carbon
Conserving energy
Reducing stormwater runoff and erosion.

[UrbanWaterloo]

City begins removing ash trees to curb emerald ash borer
January 31, 2013 | City of Kitchener | Link (http://www.kitchener.ca/en/news/index.aspx?feedId=D4F21F12-42D3-4326-A9DA-160F92157D6A&catid=E40902FA-1538-4041-86B2-14295EF00333&newsId=1a17083e-bf81-425d-953c-dfedeeffff77)

The City of Kitchener begins systematically removing about 600 ash trees along residential streets and active parkland in Ward 4 because of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in early February.

All trees to be removed will be marked with pink paint at least one week before they are scheduled to be removed. Residents who will be affected by this work have been mailed letters to notify them of the work.

Last year, 125 large healthy ash trees were chemically injected in Ward 4 to protect them from EAB. With EAB now well established in Ward 4, it is expected that the remaining untreated trees will be dead within two years. This year’s injections will be carried out across the city focusing on large, healthy ash trees on residential streets.

The work is being done under the city’s operations department’s winter works program; since snow removal is the city’s first priority there may be delays in the removal of ash trees, if there are snow events. If this work is not finished during the winter, the work will be completed later in 2013.

Once the work is started in Ward 4, a similar work plan will begin for Ward 6, which will also undergo a program of ash tree removal. The city will develop plans for other parts of the city as the population of EAB builds across the city.

For information and maps outlining the EAB work zones, please see www.kitchener.ca and search “eab.”

[KevinL]

Not sure if this is EAB-related or not, but there has been significant thinning of the private woodlot at Strasburg and Block Line over the last few months. (Not the woods adjacent to Forest Glen Plaza, FYI; kitty-corner to that.) I suppose this could be the lot's owner proactively removing ash, or just preparing for some kind of development...

[clasher]

I used to live near there... surprised that there is any forest left on that corner.

[benton]

I think the city should allow certain pesticides that prevent pests from spreading and destroying our plants/trees. For the past couple of years I've been seeing more Japanese beetles and Grape Flea beetles and it's very hard to stop them from destroying your gardens without certain pesticides.

[mpd618]

I think the city should allow certain pesticides that prevent pests from spreading and destroying our plants/trees. For the past couple of years I've been seeing more Japanese beetles and Grape Flea beetles and it's very hard to stop them from destroying your gardens without certain pesticides.

The city doesn't have jurisdiction over pesticides.

[KevinL]

Update on Strasburg and Block Line: It's not for the beetles. The lot is reportedly being developed as a 6-story apartment block, with many units designated for assistive-living (a theme in such developments on this stretch of Strasburg).

In the meantime, the lot has basically been clear-cut:

1659
1660
1661

Compare Street View (https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=strasburg+%26+barwood,+kitchener,+on&hl=en&ll=43.415975,-80.479982&spn=0.010443,0.022724&sll=49.303974,-84.738438&sspn=19.230725,46.538086&t=h&hnear=Strasburg+Rd+%26+Barwood+Crescent,+Kitchener ,+Waterloo+Regional+Municipality,+Ontario+N2E+1T8&z=16&layer=c&cbll=43.415881,-80.479867&panoid=Uf0xsjeYXEMx608tnNUgbw&cbp=12,0.56,,0,-5.52) for the 'before'.

[TMKM94]

:RpS_thumbdn: I am usually a fan of mid city developments, but this development I am not a fan of, all those trees were cut down for only one small apartment building seriously. In my opinion each area of the city needs a wooded area, this was the best one I could think of, What makes it even more irritating is there is a similar development happening in the woodlot across the street beside/behind the Mac's/Esso :RpS_sad: