The Emerald Ash Borer has done extensive damage to parts of the Bayfield Valley River Trail system.
Association President Roger Lewington says they're currently taking Ash trees out along the two and a half kilometre long Sawmill Trail upstream of the Bayfield Harbour. He explains that area is relatively low and damp which is ideal for Green Ash trees.
Lewington says they have a very thick population of Ash trees in that area and they've all been lost. Lewington adds they've been taking out younger trees to this point but now they're dealing with older and more seriously infected trees and that creates another problem in that there's more risk in taking them down.
He points out that there crews are all volunteers so they're having to hire people with more experience to help with the larger trees so now they're fund-raising to cover that cost. Anyone wishing to help with the cost of bringing down the larger trees can go to the Association's web site at Bayfieldtrails.com.
Lewington adds they've also had a forester come up and look at the possibility of planting other species of trees along the Sawmill Trail so they'd like to hear from anyone interested in helping with that planting in the spring.