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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-04-18-Resolutions 16-133_Emerald Ash Borer Management PlanTHE CITY OF WAUKEE,IOWA RESOLUTION 16-133 APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE CITY OF WAUKEE EMERALD ASH BORER MANAGEMENT PLAN IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF WAUKEE,1OWA WHEREAS,the City of Waukee,Dallas County,State of Iowa,is a duly organized Municipal Organization;AND, WHEREAS,Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)is an invasive wood boring beetle that attacks and kills ash trees;AND, WHEREAS,Emerald Ash Borer infestations have been confirmed in many Iowa counties, including Dallas County;AND, WHEREAS,the Waukee Parks and Recreation Department and Waukee Public Works Department recommend the approval and adoption of a City of Waukee Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan in order to mitigate the damage and cost associated with infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer on City-owned ash trees. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Waukee City Council that it hereby approves the City of Waukee Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan,attached hereto as Exhibit A. Passed by the City Council of the City of Waukee,Iowa,and approved the 18'"y of April, 2016. William .card,Mayor Attest: Rebecca D.Schuett,City Clerk ROLL CALL VOTE Shane Blanchard Brian Harrison Shelly Hughes Larry R.Lyon Rick Peterson AYE X X X X X NAY ABSENT ABSTAIN Waukee EHE KEY TO GOOD UVING Contents Introduction 1.1 Purpose 1.2 Applicability 1.3 Administration Background 2.1 Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) 2.2 Location 2.3 State Readiness Plan Inventory and Assessment 3.1 Public Tree Inventory 3.2 Public Tree Assessment 3.3 Private Trees 4. 5. Management Plan 4.1 Monitoring 4.2 Pre-Emptive Removal 4.3 EAB Infestation 4.4 Disposal of Debris 4.5 Planting and Restoration Communication and Outreach 5.1 Community Education 1.Introduction 1.1 Purpose The intent of this management program is to mitigate the damage and cost associated with infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).This cooperative effort by the Public Works Department and the Parks and Recreation Department is a proactive approach and enables the City to address public and private needs in an efficient and effective manner.The City will attempt to distribute the costs of this plan over a manageable time period.It is anticipated that no State or Federal assistance will be made available to local governments to deal with the impacts of the EAB. 1.2 Applicability This program is applicable to ash trees located on any public property,right-of-way, or Parks and Trails.This program does not apply to private properties unless such trees are deemed a nuisance and may negatively impact public right-of-ways,other properties,or pose a threat to public safety. 1.3 Administration The Public Works Department will be responsible for implementation of this plan for trees located in the right-of-way,and the Parks and Recreation Department will be responsible for implementation of this plan for trees located in the City's parks and along the City's trails. 2.Background 2.1 Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) The emerald ash borer (EAB)is a small green invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks and kills ash trees.The adults live on the outside of ash trees feeding on the leaves during the summer months.The larvae look similar to white grubs and feed on the living plant tissue (phloem and cambium)underneath the bark of ash trees. The trees are killed by the tunneling activity of the larvae under the trees bark,which disrupts the vascular flow.The metallic green beetle is native to Asia and was transported to the United States on wood pallets and crates. Originally discovered in the Detroit,Michigan area in 2002;the pest has also been found in Illinois,Ohio,Pennsylvania,Wisconsin,Minnesota,Iowa,Missouri,Colorado and two Canadian Provinces.Since its discovery,the EAB has been responsible for killing millions of ash trees throughout these infested areas of the country.Research continues with insecticide treatments.Some success has been noted in insecticide treatments protecting ash trees from EAB prior to infestation.As this pest continues to spread,additional damage to ash trees can be expected.Trees that have been attacked by EAB can die in as little as two years. 2.2 Location ~'~-a-~ ~O OCOCO O ~INN EAS k fseo NIICNMSCO ~Cl I ~N Nl NSIN WW NC ~MW ,MMNO, Ash tress ct risk ia itclosi pfolscIAM NWlblsslts ONES led Io esse swss Addiboaai Ioiormadom www.to we Tree pasta. Corn cwweoa "T" NNleN 'WWW OONWO T I ~OWO l Nccww.'I NNWOOe L CCSMN lho O t fro~ IMONMIWOIW,EOWMNW spews ' e Es lcmolosrtaowws Noo ltoro.soo SIS Iaersro MWO he entire state of iowa is qoeranbned ~Nla CM 2.3 State Readiness Plan Due to the potentially catastrophic impact of EAB,the State of iowa has developed the iowa Emerald Ash Borer Readiness Plan that can be found on the Department of Natural Resources website.This plan outlines the roles and responsibilities of State agencies in dealing with EAB as well as the procedures for ongoing monitoring and investigating suspected infestations.The plan does not outline the specifics of regulatory requirements following a confirmed infestation,nor does it identify any State assistance other than technical expertise. 3.Inventory and Assessment 3.1 Public Tree Inventory In the fall of 2013,City staff and IDNR conducted a tree inventory on public property, right-of-ways,and parks and trails.A total of 1,787 trees were inventoried,296 were identified as Ash trees.Using the field GPS unit,the location of each tree and the perceived general condition of each tree was noted and has been stored in a database for easy retrieval.There were 206 ash trees located within the right of way for which the City will have responsibility for removal.26 ash trees were identified as being in poor condition.Staff continues to monitor all ash trees and their conditions on an annual basis. 3.2 Public Tree Assessment Public Tree Quality Assessment ~Dead/Dying ~Poor a Fair ~Good 3.3 Private Trees The City recognizes that there are numerous ash trees on private property. Currently,the City has no reliable inventory for ash trees on private property. Property owners are urged to monitor the EAB movement.The decision to remove or treat ash trees on private property rests with the property owner. 4.Management Plan In the event of an infestation,the City and the entire Des Moines Metropolitan area, may be working under the direction of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA),the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR),and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS).As EAB continues to spread throughout iowa,State and Federal resources are expected to be limited.Therefore,it is necessary that the City has its own strategy to complement State efforts to manage the effects of EAB.The proposed EAB management strategy includes:Monitoring, Wood Utilization and Disposal,Infested Tree removal,and Tree Planting. 4.1 Monitoring Staff will complete an annual assessment of all public owned ash trees.Staff training on EAB identification and its signs and symptoms will be an ongoing effort.Staff will continue to attend training sessions as provided by the DNR,IDALS,ISU and other opportunities as they become available. 4.2 Pre-Emptive Removal The City does not plan to do any pre-emptive removal or insecticide treatments of any trees with in the right-of-way or Parks at this time.City staff will monitor trees each year and will remove any tree that is deemed dead or a safety concern. 4.3 EAB Infestation On April 1S 2015 an EAB was positively identified in a residential tree in the southeast corner of Dallas County,making Dallas County the 21"county in iowa where this invasive beetle has been found. If it is determined that an infestation has occurred,the regulatory authorities will determine an approved method for disposal of ash tree debris which may include heat treatments,incineration or chipping to meet a specific size restriction of the chips. City staff will be utilized as much as possible to effectively manage the response to an EAB infestation.Staff from all departments may have duties reassigned to assist with this effort as determined by the level and nature of the infestation.Contractors may also be utilized as needed to assist with the workload and in particular instances where the City's equipment is inappropriate to safely address a specific tree removal or insecticide treatment. 4.4 Disposal of Debris Since the entire state of iowa was quarantined in February of 2014,there are no restrictions on the transport of ash wood debris within state borders.Standard methods of disposal will be utilized for ash trees that are removed with much of the wood being chipped for use as mulch throughout the park system.Firewood and or mulch will also be made available to residents. 4.5 Planting and Restoration Trees that are removed will be replaced with a variety of landscape trees at a rate of 2 trees planted for every tree removed in parks.Ash Trees within the right-of-way will be replaced at the sole discretion of the Public Works Director.Every effort will be made to replace at a rate of 1:1. 5.Communication and Outreach 5.1 Community Education Community outreach will play an important role in educating the public and raising awareness of EAB.Residents will be encouraged to have their trees inspected if they suspect EAB.EAB information and links to other web sites will continue to be available on the City web site and this information will be updated as more information becomes available. Informational meetings will be held prior to the adoption of the plan by the City Council.Public meetings will be held in March of 2016.