City, county, state declare war on Emerald Ash Borer

Firewood is a main culprit

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) today issued an emergency quarantine in the Boulder County area related to the recent discovery of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beetle in Boulder in late September. The quarantine is effective immediately.

“Our urban trees provide enormous environmental, economic and social benefits to our community, and ash trees contribute greatly to our urban tree canopy,” said City Forester Kathleen Alexander. “We are currently developing a plan to minimize the impact of the highly destructive Emerald Ash Borer to the city of Boulder, and the quarantine is an important step to limit the infestation and slow the spread, which allows other Front Range communities time to prepare.”

The emergency quarantine prohibits the sale and/or movement of all plants and plant parts of ash trees, including but not limited to:

·         Logs and green lumber

·         Nursery stock

·         Chips and mulch, either composted or uncomposted

·         Stumps, roots and branches

·         Firewood of any non-coniferous (hardwood) species (Because ash is difficult to distinguish from other hardwood species when cut into firewood, the quarantine is for all hardwood firewood.)

The following areas are included in the emergency quarantine:

·         Boulder County

·         The entire town of Erie

·         The area extending east from Boulder County to the south including Highway 7, to the north  including Highway 52 and to the east including Weld County Road 7

·         Highway 93 extending south from the Boulder County line to the entrance of Republic Landfill, including the entire landfill property, and including the entire property at 11218 Highway 93 on which the business of the Singing Saw Woodworks is operated

·         The 15-acre, fenced Community Sort Yard located at 8200 Highway 7 in Allenspark, on the Boulder/Larimer county line

Quarantined items may be transported within the quarantined area but may not be moved outside its borders without specific authorization from the commissioner of agriculture or the United States Department of Agriculture. Any person violating this quarantine is subject to civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation. The full text of the quarantine, including additional restrictions, can be found at www.EABcolorado.com.

EAB in Colorado

A suspect ash tree was spotted in Boulder County on Sept. 23 by City of Boulder’s Forestry staff. Insect specimens from the ash tree, located near the intersection of 30^th and Iris, were collected and sent to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Systematic Entomology Laboratory, where the identity of the insects was confirmed. The confirmation of EAB in Colorado marks the western-most occurrence of this invasive pest in North America. Colorado is the fourth state to detect EAB in 2013.

Ash trees are popular in Colorado with an estimated more than 90,000 in the city of Boulder alone; the Denver metro area has an estimated 1.45 million ash trees.

EAB general information

EAB is an invasive insect that has been responsible for the death or decline of more than 50 million ash trees in 21 states. It is a small, green metallic beetle, originally from Asia, first detected in North America in 2002 in southeastern Michigan. The emerald ash borer attacks only ash trees and all ash species – including green, white, black and blue – are at risk. Signs of emerald ash borer infestation include a general decline in the appearance of the tree, thinning of upper branches and twigs, loss of leaves, and serpentine tunnels produced by EAB larvae under the bark. Woodpeckers may often be observed removing the bark of infested trees to access the larvae.

It is possible that EAB could infest an ash tree for three or four years before visible signs of decline of the tree. If you suspect your ash tree maybe infested with EAB, residents are encouraged to have it inspected  by a city of Boulder licensed certified arborist , contact CDA at 888-248-5535, or the City of Boulder Forestry office at 303-441-4406.  Infestation signs include:

·         Sparse leaves or branches in the upper part of the tree

·         D-shaped exit holes about 1/8 inch wide

·         New sprouts on the lower trunk or lower branches

·         Vertical splits in the bark

·         Winding S-shaped tunnels under the bark

·         Increased woodpecker activity

How You Can Help

“The public can play a vital role in preventing the spread of this destructive bug by simply not moving firewood,” said Mitch Yergert, CDA’s Plant Inspection Division director. “EAB larvae can survive underneath the bark of ash firewood, and when it’s moved from one place to another, the pest can hitchhike to a new location. Furthermore, it’s important to note that trees begin to decline a bit during fall months but there are certain features of an EAB-infested tree that residents can look for.”

Emergency Quarantine Issued to Protect Colorado Ash Trees in Boulder County, parts of Larimer, Jefferson, Weld Counties

Boulder County, Colo. – The Colorado Department of Agriculture has established an emergency quarantine in and around Boulder County including parts of southern Larimer, western Weld and northern Jefferson Counties (see quarantine map) related to the recent discovery of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The quarantine is effective immediately. Boulder County is working with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the City of Boulder, and other affected entities to address the quarantine and plan for the potential impacts of the EAB in Boulder County.

“We have cooperated with the state on the implementation of the temporary quarantine and will continue to work to understand the potential impacts of the EAB in Boulder County,” said Boulder County Commissioner Elise Jones. “Boulder County, in conjunction with the state and affected local partners, has begun to develop a response plan that will outline potential actions on county owned lands and provide guidance for private residents.”

The emergency quarantine prohibits the sale and/or movement of all plants and plant parts of the genus Fraxinus, including but not limited to:

·         Logs and green lumber

·         Nursery stock, scion wood, and bud wood

·         Chips and mulch, either composted or uncomposted

·         Stumps, roots and branches

·         Firewood of any non-coniferous (hardwood) species

Quarantined items may be transported within the quarantined area but may not be moved outside its borders without specific authorization from the Commissioner of Agriculture or the United States Department of Agriculture.

Quarantined items can be transported within the quarantined area to:

·         Denver Regional Landfill, 1441 Weld County Road 6, Erie

·         Front Range Landfill, 1830 Weld County Road 5, Erie

·         Republic Landfill, 8900 Colorado Highway 93, Golden

Residents participating in Boulder County operated flood-debris removal programs, including curbside debris collection do not have to take any special steps to maintain compliance with the quarantine. Debris collected by Boulder County is being treated and transported according to the requirements of the quarantine.

Any person violating this quarantine is subject to civil penalties up to $1000 per violation. The full text of the quarantine, including additional restrictions, can be found at www.EABcolorado.com.

If you think you have EAB in your ash trees, or if you have any questions or concerns, or would like additional information, please contact the CSU Extension in Longmont at 303-678-6238, email EAB@BoulderCounty.org or visit www.bouldercounty.org/property/forest/Pages/eab.aspx.