Merrill city crews will be removing ninety-two ash trees as part of their "Emerald Ash Borer Readiness Plan." The plan is in response to a survey done by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources through an Urban Forestry Grant. The findings showed which trees were in poor or declining health and at greater risk to the Emerald Ash Borer if and when it comes to the area.
Dan Wendorf, Director of Parks and Recreation in Merrill, said that the area is already at a smaller risk than other parts of the state. "The survey pointed out a total of 536 public Ash trees that we have on city property....that is about 7% so we are very fortunate in Merrill, that our percentage of Ash trees aren't as high as other communities around the state and country. Some have as much as 40 or 50 percent."
The Emerald Ash borer is a very dangerous beetle that can destroy Ash trees. It can be spread through the transportation of firewood and other wood products. Wendorf said that even though the closest areas to Merrill with confirmed cases of the beetle are Green Bay and Minneapolis, they want to be safe.
"We want to be as progressive and proactive with this as we can be, with the understanding that the removal of trees is never something that is popular in the public's opinion but it is something that can position ourselves ahead if and when it does arrive in the future," he said.
The removal costs are part of the city's budget for annual pruning and tree removal.
Wendorf explains, "The crews normally help with tree removal and pruning anyways we are just going to halt the normal removal and pruning process and concentrate our efforts just on the ash trees."
The city will be replanting all the trees that are removed, but it may take a few years for them to catch up. Out of the ninety-two trees removed this year they hope to replant two or three dozen.
You can find more information at the Merrill Parks and Recreation website and the entire Emerald Ash Borer Readiness Plan by following the links below.