Politics & Government

Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Would Cost $2.3 Million Over 10 Years

The proposed plan would reduce the percentage of ash trees from 47 percent to 19 percent over 10 years, diversifying the village's tree stock to reduce the impact of a potential emerald ash borer infection.

The Whitefish Bay Village Board is considering how it will move forward with a recommended 10-year, $2.3 million plan to safeguard the village against the emerald ash borer tree disease.

The emerald ash borer has noticeablely infected trees in Oak Creek, which is about 19 miles away, and the West Bend area, about 27 miles away. Oak Creek and Franklin have removed hundreds of trees so far.

The village has contracted Wachtel Tree Service to study the vulnerability of Whitefish Bay's trees. Wachtel arborist John Gall said the bug is easily spread by moving ash trees and firewood, and is difficult to detect because of their small size.

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“It’s inevitable that it’s going to come," Gall said. "It’s probably already here … in the early stages, it's very difficult to find it.”

The village bonded $500,000 for the program last year, and has already spent $107,311 to take down 368 trees, eliminating all of the village's ash trees under six inches in diameter. Another 344 new trees were planted last year. 

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Last year's efforts reduced the percentage of ash trees on village streets from 47 percent to 42 percent. The proposed 10-year management plan would reduce the number of ash trees from 42 percent to 19.2 percent and keep a majority of the current urban street tree canopy.

The plan would cost $2.3 million over 10 years, or approximately $233,000 per year. The exact bid price of this year's action plan will be known at the next Village Board meeting on April 16, when trustees are scheduled to make a decision on the issue.

The village needs to use the remaining $377,500 in bond funding by the end of 2013. Under the proposed plan, the village would use that money to remove 202 ash trees that are 20 inches to 31 inches in diameter and plant 200 trees of diverse species in the spring or early summer. In the fall, 1,700 trees would receive soil treatment. In the spring of 2013, 40 22-inch trees would be removed, and 40 new trees would be planted.

Gall said trustees and arborists would need to re-evaluate the plan annually to assess how great of a threat the bug poses and whether the plan should be accelerated or slowed down.

Other communities such as Oak Creek, Franklin, Milwaukee, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Shorewood and Fox Point are also treating public ash trees. Some more rural communities do not have public street tree programs. The Whitefish Bay program only pertains to public street trees, not trees on private property.


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