The City of Wall Lake is moving forward with plans to remove vulnerable ash trees from rights-of-way throughout the community. According to Clerk, Chris Rodman, the city council has been discussing how the city plans to address the issue created by the spread of the invasive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). While the beetle has not been confirmed in Sac County, it has been identified in neighboring Buena Vista and Carroll Counties. Rodman says they need to act now before it is too late.
The tiny green beetles lay their eggs in the bark of ash trees. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the larvae then tunnel through the bark and through the inner parts of the tree. This results in severe damage that nearly always kills an infested specimen. Evidence of EAB infestation include branch dieback in the upper crown, D-shaped emergence holes, water sprouts, S-shaped tunneling under loose bark and woodpecker damage. Rodman says they are focusing on trees in the worst shape first. Currently, the city plans to remove all ash trees within the rights-of-way, but Rodman says homeowners do have an option if they want their trees to remain standing.
He reiterates the city’s policy only applies to trees within the right-of-way. It costs approximately $30 per year to apply preventative pesticides to a healthy tree. It is possible to treat an infested tree in the early stages, but success rates drop significantly as canopy thinning increases. Rodman says city crews will be steadily removing trees over the next several years.
Rodman encourages residents with ash trees on their property outside of the right-of-way to develop their own EAB-mitigation plan. Questions about the removal process can be directed to city hall at 712-664-2216.
