By Lauren Waters
Correspondent
ALLOUEZ – The invasive and highly destructive insect emerald ash borer has wreaked havoc on trees in more than 30 states, and now it’s spreading through the Village of Allouez.
Parks, Recreation and Forestry Director Christopher Clark gave an emerald ash borer update at the Allouez village board meeting Tuesday, Sept. 3.
“We’ve been talking about the emerald ash borer for years,” said Clark. “We knew it was coming, and it’s finally hit us.”
Clark said the problem started in the southeast part of the state, and although it started showing signs in Allouez a few years prior, the visible damage is far more significant this year.
“Currently we are seeing infestation throughout the community with the majority being in the northern parts and some in the southern end,” he said. “But it is widespread throughout.”
Clark said his team estimates there are 650 to 700 ash trees on public property in Allouez, whether along streets, in parks or on other public land.
Staff is currently in the process of removing 40 dead and dying trees in Allouez this summer alone, and that number could easily be doubled, if not more, come next summer, he said.
Clark said the summertime is when trees are most affected due to the way the insect works.
“It burrows underneath the bark and cuts off the water to the upper portion of the trees, so during the heat of the summer when a tree needs water, it’s not getting it,” he said. “That’s why in the later part of the summer, we’re starting to see trees really thinning and looking bad.”
The removal of ash trees is the top priority of the department, and Clark estimates the entire process will take five or six years.
“We anticipate that this is going to start to grow exponentially,” he said. “It definitely will put some of our other operations on hold or at least lessened to put the priority toward taking care of the trees.”
Although the department has received some grant funding for reforestation efforts, there currently isn’t a grant that allows for tree removal operations.
Clark anticipates using grants the department has currently and may receive in the future to purchase new trees once the tree removal process is finished.