Emerald Ash Borer
On July 5, 2011, the Village of Carpentersville (Village) received
notice from the Illinois Department of Agriculture confirming the
presence of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) within our community. The EAB
was verified in our community through outreach activities performed by
the Illinois Department of Agriculture's EAB staff. A copy of the
Memo from the Illinois Department of Agriculture
confirming the Village's EAB infestation is available for review and
download. Unfortunately, the arrival of
EAB will have a serious impact to the Village's tree canopy, aesthetic
environment, and budget for numerous years to come.
The
Village's
EAB Policy is available for review and
download.
Information on the control of the EAB can be found
on-line at
www.illinoisEAB.com, a website maintained by the Illinois Department
of Agriculture as well as
www.emeraldashborer.info.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)?
EAB is a non-native species to North America. It was discovered in
southeastern Michigan in the summer of 2002. EAB probably arrived in the
United States on solid wood packing material conveyed in cargo ships or
airplanes originating from its native land, Asia. The adult beetles
nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature
stage) feed on the inner bark or cambium layer which is the crucial
layer between the bark and wood of ash trees, thus, disrupting the
tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. According to the
Illinois Department of Agriculture, the Emerald Ash Borer typically
moves only short distances by flying, but can survive long distances in
transit on ash nursery stock, ash logs, branches and firewood. The
beetle killed tens of millions of ash trees in southeastern Michigan
alone, with tens of millions more lost in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana,
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Missouri, Wisconsin, Virginia, Ontario and
Quebec. Adult beetles are bright, metallic-green in color. Adults are
typically one-third of an inch long and one-sixteenth of an inch wide.
They have rounded abdomens and flat backs. Larvae are creamy white and
have flattened, segmented bodies. Older larvae grow up to an inch long.
They feed under ash tree bark from mid-summer through spring, damaging
the ash tree's vascular tissue. These beetles only infest ash trees.
EAB Adult
EAB Larvae
How do I identify if I have an Ash tree?
- Branches will grow opposite of one another:
- The tree bark will have diamond pattern:
- A compound leaf will be composed of seven or nine leaflets:
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| Ash, One Leaf, 9 Leaflets |
Green Ash, One Leaf, 7 Leaflets |
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|
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| Black Ash, One Leaf, 7 Leaflets |
White Ash, One Leaf, 7 Leaflets |
How do I know if I have a tree that is infested with EAB?
You can help the Village manage the EAB by monitoring ash trees on
your property. Trees infested with EAB can have the
following tell-tale signs:
- D-shaped exit holes on the tree bark
- Excessive sprouting or growth at the base of the tree
- Splits or fissures on the trunk of the tree
- S-Shaped galleries beneath the bark
- Increased use by woodpeckers / woodpecker damage
What steps has the Village taken to eradicate trees infested with
EAB?
During the summer and fall of 2012, the Public Works staff surveyed
and inventoried the Village's entire ash tree population and found a
total of 2,350 ash trees. As part of the ash tree inventory, staff rated
every tree in accordance with the Emerald Ash Borer Policy. The rating
system utilized by the Village is detailed below.
Level 1
- Tree is showing some signs of EAB infestation but cannot be determined
with reasonable certainty. Tree will be monitored on a quarterly to
bi-annual basis.
Level 3 - Tree is showing obvious
signs of EAB infestation and will be monitored very closely. Tree will
almost certainly die off completely within 1-2 years.
Level 5 - Tree is almost or completely dead due to EAB
infestation. Tree shows more than two obvious signs of EAB infestation
and needs to be removed and/or replaced.
To date (2012), the Village has
removed approximately 840 ash trees from the public right-of-ways and
Village owned properties that were given a "Level 5" rating.
Will the Village replace my parkway tree?
Public Works crews have removed over 840 ash trees that were infested
or were previously dead in 2012, and will most likely be removing trees
for the next five years. The funds to replace trees are limited;
therefore, trees will only be replaced as resources, such as grant
funding, shared-cost initiatives or once other funding is made
available.
Will the Village remove the tree stump once the tree is removed?
Yes. Stumps are added to a list and ground (removed), within 60-90
days of the removal of the tree. Due to the potential high volume of
work, this timeframe may be adjusted. Depending on the season, wood
chips may remain in place or the area will be restored with topsoil and
seed & blanket.
Why do the plants, edging, and landscape blocks need to be removed
prior to stump removal?
Machines used for grinding stumps are essentially large-scale
chainsaws with teeth that are designed for use on wood and topsoil only.
Blocks, edging, and landscaping may prohibit the unit from accessing the
stump and can cause damage to the machine.
May I replace a tree in the parkway at my own expense?
Yes, funds from the Village's Tree Replacement Cost Sharing Program
can be utilized until the funding source is exhausted; however, property
owners may plant approved trees in the parkway at an owner's expense as
well. The program is offered on a first-come, first serve basis. Per the
approved EAB Policy, property owners will be reimbursed at a rate of $50
per tree. Should property owners take advantage of this voluntary
tree replacement cost sharing program, the property owner will need to
take the following steps:
Step #1 - Contact the
Village's Public Works Department (PWD) at 847-836-2464 for a brief
overview of the cost sharing program and to review the following steps.
Step #2 - Stake-out the exact location where you would like the
tree(s) to be planted with a flag or wooden stake and contact Julie at
1-800-892-0123. This step will ensure that all of the underground
utilities within the parkway are located and will not interfere in the
planting of the tree(s). If requested by the property owner, the Village
will provide the property owner with assistance in staking out the
tree(s). However, the property owner must be present during this visit.
Once this step is completed, please contact the PWD. Staff members will
verify that the tree(s) is located in an acceptable location - compliant
with all Village policies. In an effort to maintain proper spacing, all
efforts should be taken to plant trees within the area where the
original tree(s) was removed from.
Step #3 -
Choose a tree from the from the
Village's Permitted Tree Species List (Ordinance 16.80.080). Note:
Any tree(s) planted within the right-of-way is required to be at least
2.5-inches in diameter measured at six-inches above grade level. See
EAB Policy for further information
regarding cost sharing requirements.
Step #4 -
Once you have chosen an approved tree, complete the
Village's Right-of-Way Tree Planting Application permit and submit the to the
Village. There is no charge for this permit. The Village will also be reviewing the tree species selected
and making sure that a diverse tree canopy is accomplished for your
particular street. Once the Village has received the completed
application, staff will prepare the
License Agreement
For Use of Village Parkway which will need to be executed by the
property owner prior to conducting any work within the Village's
right-of-way.
Step #5 - Plant your tree per the nursery's recommended
guidelines. Keep all receipts and invoices associated with the purchase
of the tree as well as its planting costs. The Village will need copies
of this information to process your $50 reimbursement.
Step #6 -
Once your tree has been planted in the proper location, members of the
PWD will verify that you have fulfilled the permit requirements and
begin the refund process for your newly planted tree.
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