Emerald Ash Borer Found in Dubuque

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestations have now been confirmed in 28 Iowa counties, including Dubuque County and the city of Dubuque.

The infestation overlaps city and county boundaries in the area of Hwy 61/151 between Twin Valley Drive and Maquoketa Drive on both sides.

The EAB is a small, metallic green, non-native invasive pest whose larvae feast on the inner bark of ash trees, ultimately disrupting their ability to transport nutrients and causing the tree's eventual decline and death. For area residents wishing to preserve healthy, high value ash trees, now is the time to explore treatment options. University guidelines recommend that treatment should begin once an EAB infestation is within 15 miles of your location. Treatments are most effective in the spring and not recommended at this time of year.

The City of Dubuque has been prepared for an EAB infestation and developed an EAB Readiness Plan. In preparation for the Emerald Ash Bores arrival, the City has inventoried trees on right-of-ways and other public property. During this inventory, it was found that ash trees make up 24% of the City’s total street tree canopy, so an infestation could be devastating to our communities tree population. Right now, the city is working out the final details of its management plan which is in the early stages of being be implemented.

Unlike some other communities that are choosing to remove and eliminate healthy ash trees from their neighborhoods, the City of Dubuque will begin removing ash trees on public property that are in poor condition. Healthy problem free ash trees will be considered for treatment.

The Iowa EAB team is comprised of officials from various state agencies and is focused on slowing the spread of the infestations throughout the state. The EAB team will work with the City to determine what steps will be required to control the spread of EAB. Residents are being asked to not move firewood from infested trees to other areas.

Residents concerned about their privately owned ash trees can check for the following symptoms since these symptoms are usually apparent before the insects are spotted:
• Canopy/crown thinning and dieback starting at the top
• 1/8 inch D-shaped exit holes on trunk or branches
• Suckers sprouting on lower limbs and trunk
• Woodpecker flecking activity on tree branches

Residents can contact an International Society of Arboriculture(ISA)-certified arborist with questions or for confirmation of suspected EAB. The City of Dubuque will hold a public information meeting on EAB at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center at the Mines of Spain Recreation Area on Bellevue Heights Road. The public is invited to attend to learn about ash tree identification, EAB identification, the City’s plans to deal with the infestation, and options for infested trees on private property. For more information, please visit www.cityofdubuqe.org/EAB.