02.24.14 EAB PacketCITY OF BOULDER
PARKS AN15 RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM
MEETING DATE: February 24, 2014
AGENDA TITLE: Emerald Ash Borer 2014 Workplan
PRESENTERS:
Jeff Dillon, Director, Parks and Recreation
Alice Guthrie, Recreation Superintendent
Abbie Poniatowski, Senior Business Manager
Kathleen Alexander, City Forester
EAB management, inclu•Fifill, tree removal replacement, wood disposal and pestici&
treatments, will have an enormous •#Xect bu4etary impact to the City of Boulder and
private reAdents over the next 15 years. The loss of tree canopy will have significant
W
econormc� socia4 and environmental impacts for decades.
F1 al F 1i
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: City Council IP Memo, February 4� 2014: Emerald Ash Borer in the City
of Boulder
Attachment A 2014 City of Boulder EA B Workplan Outline
AGENDA ITEM # VI-A- PAGE,-,,I,-,.
Attachment A
® 9004/
�d 1 Did Le A- NOM
To: Members of City Council
From: Jane S. Brautigam, City Manager
Paul J. Fetherston, Deputy City Manager
Jeff Dillon, Parks and Recreation Director
Kathleen Alexander, City Forester
Susan Richstone, Community Planning and Sustainability Deputy Director
Lesli Ellis, Comprehensive Planning Division ManAger
Rella Abernathy, City Integrated Pest Management Coordinator
Date: February 4, 2014
Subject: Information Item: 2014 Emerald Ash Borer in the City of Boulder
The purpose of this memo is to update City Council about the status of a newly discovered
federally quarantined ash tree pest, emerald ash borer (EAB), includirigi.
• The background, impact and scope of the issue;
• Information about the federally-mandated and state-enforced quarantine of Boulder
County;
• Most current information about the EAB infestation including detection surveys, and an
inventory of ash trees on city-owned properties;
• Staff action to develop a management plan; and
• Education and outreach efforts.
Ash is one of the most abundant tree species comprisir* approximately 15% of all deciduous
trees in urban areas across Colorado, including the City of Boulder. Emerald ash borer is an
introduced pest to the US, which was first discovered in 2002 and has since moved across the
country to 21 states. North American ash trees have shown little resistance to EAB and over 50
million ash trees havedied since 2002 from this pest. Research has shown that specific pesticide
products are effective against EAB if used before trees are compromised by the pest and applied
per label requirements. Pesticide applications are needed to preserve ash trees through peak EAB
infestation; howeverl as local EAB populations decline due to death of untreated ash trees, it is
possible that appFication frequency may be reduced.'
Emerald Ash Borer Man Statornent; Janumy, 201
http://wwy,emeraldaahbor-a.info/fi6s/cwv-ww_iwh.pdf AGENDA ITEM #VI PAGE
Attachment A
M -
EAB managemen'47ricluding tree removal, tree replacemen� •wood • disposal and pesticide
treatments� will have an enormous direct budgetary impact to the C-Ry of Boulder and private
residents 6ie the nep 15 years. The loss of tree canopy NA1111ave significant economic, sociak
and environmental for decades.
- t#tpartmentally with arks & Recreati oN
Staff is gathering information and working de P
'fh
Integrated Pest ManavernTht team, O!mn Space and Mountain Parks- Develo!lment Review- and
*thcr interested divisions and departments to develop an EAB work plan for 2114, whRh will be
riiresented to council during the first quarter of 2014.
- A;ENDA I'T PAGF -3
Attachment A 11 11
services in businevi districts with trees. Trees increase residential and business property
values and the tax base; attract visitors, businesses, and new residents to an area and increase
occupancy and rental ratmaof apa4ments and offices. Shading frorw trees can deftr
maintenance longer for materials that are degraded by heafs4t as asphalt and p
Environmental: Boulder's urban tree canopy pWvides man
environmental benefits to the
community. Urban trees help mitigate climate change by ZntribuAiig to reductions in carbon
dioxide and other pollutants, improvements in water quality, stormwdMr runoff reduction and
energy saving through shading surfages and reduced cool'i"4 demand. Although ash trees
arg
comprise approximately 15 percent the total tree polTnlag K l e mAring, long
on, thVX d
Uyed trees and therefore contribute more environmental benefits than expected by their
percentage in the urban tree canopy.
If left untreated, it is wittgipated that all ash will dk during the infestation period from EAB
'
9pusing high tree canopy losses and subseqWnt loss of environmental, economic and social
,
benafits. Peolic"ides are an important componqt In EA
0 management progAW and are,,,.
effective In the prevention and spread of EAB. However, pesticide treatments, whether
public or pAvate, can have impacts to non - target organisms and the environment; decisions
about which pesticide product to apply and which trees to treat must be carefully b*ncqd to
provide the least overall ?farm to the envirFrimentg
• Social: Social scientists have shown trees and spaceMwithin cities provide social and
psychological benefits and'hurove the quality of Me for rep dent p
%Connection t9 trees and
nature affects mods, activities and emotional health. It can reduce stress and mental fatigu%
enhance nantal health, enhance recuperation rates in hospitals, rgduce psychological
rsors to crim and increase Tecreadonal opportun
preq . i T
p%, tf!!�j A community's urban forest is
usually thLfirst impression a community projects tolwvNitors and is an extension of its
pride and community spirit. 2
BACKGROUND
The Emerald ash borer (Agrilus p1anFpeTnh), an exotic
wood boring beetle first afsco- near Detrolt, Michon
in 2002, has since spread to 21 other states where it has
killed over 50 million ash trees. Scientists believelt was
uninten?ionally br(, ht to the US through Infestedi sh
crating or pallets from its native range in China.
gJ
EAB attacks only ash trees anii all Vorth American ash
species (Fraxinus spp.), including gfa and white ash, are
at risk�,EAB larvae feed under the bark on the vascular
tissues of the trecgwhtch eventually 4jills it. EAB killboth
stressed and healtlil ash trees and at high populatiQu levels
can kill mature as within two or three years'ifter
initial infestation. 7 '
On September 23
,j,20126,.city of Moulder Folep -taff
Landsc&pe and Human Htalth LaboratorJ;Uni%rs!tY MIKA at Urbana Champal
In. hftp&h1J11inois.tW
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AGENDAqTEM # VI PAGE
Attachment A
found EAB in a dead ashWree in the public righter &way i9northeast Boulikr near Isis Avenue
and 30 Street. Staff detected the beetles when sampling the ash tree prior to removal. Insect
specimens were collected and sent to the USDA Systematic Entomology Laboratory in MiclAgan
where the identity of the insects was confirmed; Tlils was the fJA time this insect had Veen
found in Coloradi'and is the western -most ocArrence of this invasive pest in North America.
GE PAGE
ANWA' ITEM #
Attachment A
The city was divided into plots or gads that are one square mile each. CVws removed
two small branches from each of 10 public ash trees near the center oP ch plot. The bark
was peeled from the branch samples and the wood examined closely for the presence OW
4AB larvae. All larvae found were sent to CSU for positive identification. Branch
sampling protocols were developed by the Canadian Forest Service (CFS - -they found by
performing random branch sampling on asymptomatic trees with tfi'Ntechnique, they
were able to detect EAB several miles a %ay from the original location before trees
become symptomatic.
Public Tree Inventory
The existing pubh'&tree inventory was last updated between 1999 and 2011 and updat ;Vpre
planned prior to the discovery ofVAB. EAB has incread the priority for updates to the ash tree
porlibn of the uiventory. A tree inventor and asset management vendor has been contracted anjL
a%h tree kvent updates wens recently completec Information on thezurrent cons t on class,
tree diameter an recommended maintenance actionaas collected fbr re n and white ash tre+
on public property under the jurisdiction of the cif Forestry Envision.
Treatm t Options
Since asTi trees camiot survive an EAB" f atiot the only option av lable t&tave th *'life of a
tree is pesticide application. Research has shown that specific peaicidt podudis Me effecAve
again* EAB If used before trees are compromised by the pest as applIel r lab
requirements. Because the VAB larvae feed under the bar —the mct effect a pest ides are
systemic insk *ides. Systemld insectides are transported throughout the tree within itivascular
tistes. Feeding by EAB larvae damages the tree's vwscula�eystenu as does image from
wound; and other pests. Only ash tomes in good condlitiBneNMId be coraktred for treatment
otherwise the pesticide treatments may not be effective. Before pestfcidgs are considered, the
impacts and tradeoffs for each product will be carefully weighed with the environment%l and
economic #hpacts of tree loss. The city of Boger has an Integrated Pest Ma ement Policy
and any proposed action wril be in compliance vAth the policy. The process for this analysi ,will
be i>icludedin the EAB 204 Work Plan.
* oMmerald ash boner in urban enWonment usk*.�ranch sample Qpnad� .
n S -Sault Ste.
Matte, Technical Note No. 111. httpalc nrcan, c.ca/pubwarehouse /pdfs /321 7.pdf
AGENDA ITEN 4 •Vl� , w PAGE n
Attachment A
Recreation we
• Tree Dissections: City Forestry has hosted a series of EAB "tree dissections" in
cooperatiorl iw.A CISU Extension, CD A and APHIS staff. The dissections 4ie geared
toward forestFy staff from other Front Range and Wygjning communities and tree care
M.ompanies to ibit the infested trees and demonstrate branch peeling techniques.
• 4 L PW) ITEM A- , PAjPE ?
F v Tgt?m ZpLront ra fj
di at C i%71;er PM 7eLr:.fi1Q8"1i1it1
Attachment A
1 4. 1
ANALYSIS
The results from both the updated public ash tree inventory and the delimitation survey will be
analyzed and used to develop a City of Boulder EAB 2014 Work Plan and ultimately an EAB
Management Plan to manage the infestation within the city and potentially slow the spread to
nearby communities.
Detection Surve
The delimitation survey started November 4, 2013 and was completed on January 15, 2014.
Attachment B shows the delimitation survey grid map. EAB was detected in five -grids: E3, F3,
G3, H3 and H4. EAB was not found in the sampled trees in other grids, but due to the flight
ability of the insect and rate of spread in Midwest communities, other parts of Boulder are likely
infested at low pest populations. City Forestry staff will continue efforts to monitor foi�EAB in
all parts of the city.
CU Grounds staff also conducted a detection survey and found evidence of EAB in a group of
green and white ash in the parking lot adjacent to the Space Sciences building on the CU East
Campus (in Grid G3).
Public Tree Invento
Inventory information for ash trees in public street rights-of-way and in city parks was updated
after the discovery of EAB in Boulder. The current inventory ha's 4,808 ash trees total with an
appraised value of $15.4 million; 1,267 trees in city parks and 3,541 in public street rights-of-
way. The trees range in size from one to 48 inches in diameter. The Forestry Division has not
planted ash trees since 2003, however ash is naturalized and many have seeded into natural areas
in city parks or have been planted by adjacent property owners into street rights-of-way.
Information on the current tree condition and recommended maintenance needs will be analyggd
and presented to City Council during the first quarter of 2014.
Treatment Options
Pesticide produtts from three different classes of systemic insecticides are available for treatment
of EAB:
Merit (imidacloprid) — a neonicotinoid insecticide that has been on the city's approved
pesticide list for several years
TREE-dge (emamectin benzoate) — a "semi-synthetic" product derived from a soil
bacterium that is a restricted use pesticide (may only be applied by a certified pesticide
applicator). a
TreeAzin (azadirachtin) — a natural product derived from the seeds of the neem tree �R
certified for use under the USDA's National Organic Program
Staff is assessirig each of these products using documentation from the EPA and other regulatory
agencies and open literature. Staff is also consulting with academic researchers, who are
crsi id red the leading experts in EAB management. Pesticides e being evaluated for efficacy
e ar
I I
o EAB control, as well as impacts to non-target organisms and the environment to determine
which products will be used under different circumstances.
A I I
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Attachment A
NEXT STEPS
A 2014 EAB Work Plan will be developed and presented to City Council during the first quarter
of 2014.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A — Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine
Attachment B — Emerald Ash Borer Delimitation Survey
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Attachment A
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AGENDA ITTEM #
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Attachment B
City of Boulder Emerald Ash Borer 2014 Workplan
Established the City of Boulder F,&B Research Advisory Group
o, Dr. Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University
o Dr. Deb McCullough; Michigan State University
o Dr. Krista Ryal� Cana&an:Porest Service
o Dr. Sky Stephens, US Forest Service
iJ -
Continued Coordination with EAB Incident Command Structure working group (comprised
of City of Boulder, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Colorado Department
of Agriculture, Colorado State University Extension, Colorado State Forest Service,
Univers'hy of Colorado)
• Public Educ&tionX)utreach
• Industry Trainings
• Quarantine
• Dendrochronology
• Establish a City of Boulder Inte'Rlepartmental EAB Working group to discusTon going EAB
iinanagement and develop the City of Boulder EAB Man a ent P1anaGroup will initially
I vi nclude representatives from: Parks & Recreation Forestry, Plannir 1partment, Public
Works/Utilities /Greenways, Open Space and Mountain Parks. Group will also include
representation from University of Colorado and Colorado Sx atoUnivershy Extension
Boulder. County.
EAB Mpn�orjDg vytthin City of Boulder
• ComprfteZ Eli$ Dellimitafibn S
• Branch sampling in -grids adjacent to known infested area `s fall 2014 , E2j Ff, G2, H2, I4
• Pheromone trJ� study with Canadian Forest Service
bi Resident service requests for public ash trees vAthin grids where EAB noMetected
• Sample all ash d inovals
• Random sampling of ash trees during rotaonal pruni
• Refer private ash tree sampli uests to _ity of Boulder Acensed cerdf larborists
PuWe Edile'ation /
o Parks & Recreation ASfisory Board, EnvTronmental Advi §ory Board, City Council:
memos, presentations, discu*on
PJ1s & Recreat bn Forestry EAB w bsit
• Continued Ngws Releaes
• Continued Dissectioml'�rainings as requested as freshinfested material available
• Postdlird to all propert� in knmvn Infeste4 f ids
0 PubliciMeCtings for propay owned n infested grids and adjacent bids (EAB basics
criteria for ash preservgj pr6treatment'bptioria etc)
o Industry Presentations: Metro Mayor's Caucus Meeting ProG%en Conference, Greeleg
Tree Care Workshop
• MbIX 4h tree f4movils / replacbmenti
50� �,_ �M, - M
Develop Woo4l"Mulch Utilization plan in coordination with city LEAD staff and WesteM
Disposal W.)
Research and coordinate with Community Planning and Development Review
staff for possible code changes to facilitate EAB management
o Tree Protection - protect large non-ash trees through development to maintainlir•an tree
cw
• Remove ash from approved street tree list (DCS updates)
* Research possibility of a resident "Payback program"
• Research how enforcement for dargerous trees can be facilitated
:* Look into possible updates to City of Boulder arborist licensing program
A
AGENDAITEN#. Vt-.
Attachment B
• Configure and implement Urban Forestry Tree inventory / Asset Management Program
(Davey TreeKeeper software) to track all maintenance on public ash trees (and other public
trees)
• Explore available. grant options
• Urban Forest Master plan / EAB Management Plan
• Wood utilization
• Lease land for collecting, storing and processing wood
• Assist property owners with control /removal costs
(*n
, AGENDA €T ' -- , PAGE