Preparing For Emerald Ash Borer (EAB): Things to Do Before EAB Arrives
Indiana communities will benefit in many ways from preparing a plan of action to deal with the invasive EAB beetle before it arrives and starts killing their ash trees.
This guide will help planners become familiar with quarantine procedures and compliance agreements and provide contact information that will be necessary in the event that EAB attacks ash trees in their community. (See Quarantine and Compliance Information).
Gathering the Team and Laying the Groundwork
Identify an EAB readiness team for your community. The team should include representatives from the following areas:
Office of the Mayor or Town Council President
City Forestry
Streets Department
Parks Department
County Council
Chamber of Commerce,
Appropriate Utility Companies
Public Relations Department
Soil and Water Conservation District
Local Purdue Extension Office
Local businesses that will be affected such as nurseries, tree care businesses, etc.
Assign one person on the team to act as the EAB urban forestry manager, point person, or liaison. This team member should ideally have urban forestry training or a background in environmental studies. He or she will work closely with the Public Relations Coordinator if applicable.
The team will familiarize itself with state protocols that must be followed if an infestation of EAB is found in your community by referring to the Advice to City Forestry Managers publication.
General information about the insect and a list of talking points is available from the Exotic Insect Education Coordinator, Department of Entomology at Purdue University.
Funding Issues
Determine corporate and private partners who are willing to fund removal and replacement of infested ash trees on private property. A town riddled with dead or dying trees does not look economically promising to potential new businesses and residents; this depressed landscape can hinder existing business opportunities.
Inventory equipment and tree worker skill base in the municipality.
Determine what community funds are available for removals and replanting on public property.
Determine which department(s) in the community is responsible for felling and removing trees. Identify employees who have had training on the use of chain saws and in tree felling. Training videos on both topics are available from a variety of sources.
Develop a list of equipment and vehicles that will be available for tree removal and clean-up, including wood chippers, bucket trucks, refuse packers, loaders, supervisory vehicles, chain saws, barricades, handsaws, and pole pruners. Communities that have ordinances restricting or forbidding open burning may be eligible for large equipment grants for grinders from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
Work with your utility company.
Contact the appropriate utility provider regarding potential problems with proximity of ash trees to utility lines in the area.
You may also want to work with them on a procedure for ash tree removal and replacement in these areas. (Utility Contacts).
