Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 02/10/2011

Home

3. Existing ash trees in poor condition or in fair condition with major defects will be targeted for removal. 4. Ash trees that are removed will be replaced with another species. Replanting will be done with a keen focus on species diversity and matching the right tree with the right location. 5. Plantings will be conducted in the spring and /or fall based on staff availability and budget. 6. Pesticide control will not be considered an option for boulevard trees at this time. While in the short term this may be less costly than removal and replanting, long- term it becomes much more expensive due to the need to re -treat annually or biannually with the currently available products. • Park Trees: 1. The number of ash trees in City Parks, including maintained and wooded areas, is unknown but could be upwards of a thousand or more. Ash trees in poor condition or fair condition with major defects in maintained portions of parks will be identified and targeted for removal. 2 The City will continue to work with the MN Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish detection trees and traps as needed in city parks 3. Ash trees in wooded areas will not be addressed unless in close proximity to a trail or structure where harm and /or damage could result from a failure. However, if an ash tree in a wooded area is found to be infested and it is in the early stages of infestation, said tree(s) may be removed to slow the spread to other areas. 4. Ash trees removed from maintained areas of parks will be replaced, again with a focus on species diversity, native species, and matching the right tree with the right location. Should ash trees be removed from wooded areas, natural regeneration will be relied upon for reforestation. • Trees on Private Property: Through educational efforts, property owners will be encouraged to diligently monitor their ash trees for any signs of EAB. They can either contact the City's Environmental Coordinator or the MDA Arrest the Pest hotline for more information or for a site inspection. 2. For property owners that are contemplating treatment options for individual ash trees, the City encourages them to hold off until EAB has been confirmed within fifteen (15) miles of Ramsey, as recommended by the MDA. 3. The City will also continue to encourage property owners to replace lost trees with species appropriate for the site or even in advance of potential infestation and ash removal. As with public lands, the City encourages property owners to diversify the species on their property to buffer against future insect/disease outbreaks. A valuable reference that is available to homeowners for planting 1.