Brodhead's ash trees to get the axe under plan
BRODHEAD — Brodhead is applying for a state grant to cut down ash trees on city property even before the emerald ash borer arrives.
The city has applied for a state forestry grant in anticipation of the arrival of the beetle that feeds on and kills ash trees.
"I like to say, 'If it hits,' but the experts say it's going to be, 'when,'" said Rich Vogel, supervisor of the public works department.
That's why the city has applied for a $5,000 grant from the state Department of Natural Resources. Additional grants could follow.
The emerald ash borer has been found in southeastern and southwestern Wisconsin and north central Illinois but so far not in south central Wisconsin.
How many ash trees in Brodhead would be cut is unknown, but the plan would be to start next year and do a little each year, Vogel said.
"Our (first) concern is trees out there that probably should be removed anyway. They're getting to the age of coming to the end of their lifespan," he said.
It's a good idea to remove trees with dead branches rather than wait until you have to, he said.
The city would wait as long as it could to remove nice trees in good shape.
Part of the grant would be used to set up a citizen forestry committee to keep better track of the condition of city trees, he said. The city doesn't know how many terrace trees it has—"that's part of the inventory that we want to use some of this money for," he said.
A quick count found about 500 ash trees, which makes up 20 to 30 percent of terrace trees, he said.
Brodhead probably has a slightly higher number of ash trees compared to other communities, he said. A lot of ash trees were planted after Dutch elm disease struck decades ago because the city wanted replacement trees that would grow at a decent rate and provide a nice canopy.
The emerald ash borer beetle feeds on the inner bark of ash trees, which eventually causes the tree to starve and die. Communities typically budget only a small amount for tree removal annually, so when the beetle moves in, "suddenly you have a 20 percent increase for two, three, four years in a row of dead trees," Vogel said.
"To try to prevent a big hit on the budget, you try to get rid of some of those older trees," he said.
The wood from ash trees would have more uses if trees are cut before becoming infested, he said.
"We have no idea what kind of restrictions would be put on the wood once it's infected," he said.
New tree planting and education would be part of the grant's use.
"I think when the public is aware of what the community possibly is facing, it will be something they'll want to work with us on," he said.
He acknowledged cutting down mature trees around homes can be a frustrating issue.
"Everybody hates to lose a tree you've had shading your house for 20 years," he said.
Nov 16, 2010 at 3:45 p.m.
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St_Hubert: the offset cost of the tree isn't enough to keep them when faced with complete decimation by the ash borer. Their logic is if they remove the source tree, the ash borers won't come there...get it? they can always replant other more valuable trees in it's place; ones that don't have a nasty predator heading this way... ;)
Nov 14, 2010 at 9:49 a.m.
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@ zythia & janesvillian
Annual DIY cost of treatment runs less than $2.00 per inch of trunk diameter for trees up to 12" diameter. Larger trees will cost about 2x that per inch of trunk diameter. The product you use must be labeled for these larger trees. (Labels & new product releases are catching up with this for the 2011 season).
Ash up to 24" diameter have been protected from peak pest pressure by these methods (research completed in Toledo, OH). Research on even larger trees is underway.
Municipalities working with a contract applicator can achieve similar annual treatment pricing simply due to volume discount. In EAB endemic areas, contractors often offer price breaks to residents of communities with which they have contracts.
If you choose to DIY treat, first have your ash evaluated for structural soundness and overall health by an ISA certified arborist. Pay for this report, then arrange for updates every couple of years. The cost should be reasonable and will save you from treating an unsound tree.
To understand the ecosystem and property value benefits provided by existing ash trees, see www.treebenefits.com.
In most cases, what you spend on treatment is more than offset by "services" the tree provides.
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Nov 12, 2010 at 11:41 a.m.
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gravitylens Why sell the firewood? If they cut the trees with state money then they should give it away. People could come and load their own.
Nov 12, 2010 at 11 a.m.
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zythia13, there are different treatment options and some of them are that expensive. My number was an "at least" minimum. We have a street ash that I quite like and I am keeping it trimmed back in anticipation of later removal.
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nowwhat, state and federal grants are how many municipalities pay for things outside their normal scope of duties. That's why they exist. The state does derive a benefit from municipalities doing this. Obviously, there are fewer street and yard trees in rural areas. It's the urban concentrations that help the beetle spread.
Nov 12, 2010 at 9:51 a.m.
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Yes nowwhat, it appears Brodhead City government is already infected!
Nov 12, 2010 at 8:31 a.m.
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proper treatment for the EAB actually runs closer to 10 dollars PER SQUARE INCH of coverage.
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There is no guarantee that a tree coming down for lumber would not already be infected at the time of transport. To properly remove ash trees before they are presumed infected in the safest manner least likely to spread or infect any other trees would require taking them ALL down at a local level and chipping them into mulch. EAB cannot subsist on fragmented pieces that are as small as a mulch, spread to an inch or two in depth. Then, of course, replanting new trees would have to take place.. The estimate cost for PUBLIC trees in Janesville would run in the couple of millions of dollars for removal. It will be a massive undertaking. And, that would not include privately owned trees. If you have ash trees on your property, start saving money now, because unless there is grant money of some kind, you will most likely have to take care of their removal at some point if they become infected. (I have two white ash myself... and I certainly do not relish the idea of taking down the 30 year old trees.)
Nov 12, 2010 at 7:58 a.m.
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Why do they need state money to do this? Another case of why the state budget is in trouble. There is no reason they need state money to pay city staff to count trees and set up committees. They should also be able to cut down a few trees a year with their own budget. $5,000 may not sound like a lot of money but it all adds up.
Nov 12, 2010 at 7:05 a.m.
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Treatment costs around $50 per tree (not counting e.g. village staff time) and may need annual reapplication -- for as long as the insect remains a problem, which could be forever. It's better to cull first. Select trees could be treated.
Nov 11, 2010 at 7:11 p.m.
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Why can't they treat the trees?
Nov 11, 2010 at 6:46 p.m.
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So are they planning on replanting other floodplain trees to replace the ash? At least if they cut them out now the wood has value and can be used for something other than firewood.....
Nov 11, 2010 at 6:09 p.m.
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So does that mean they wouldn't cut down ALL ash trees. It doesn't seem clear in the article.
If so, it makes a lot of sense. Then they need to sell the firewood to residents at a low price to keep their heat bills down.
That's definitely making the best of a bad situation.
Nov 11, 2010 at 4:14 p.m.
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Prudent action that other communities might want to emulate. By getting the weakest trees first and thinning the canopy, the beetle will have a harder time propagating when it arrives, and the city will have some trees well on their way to at least juvenile maturity by the time infected trees have to go.
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