The City of Owen Sound has launched a ten year plan to eradicate over 1,000 ash trees infested with the Emerald Ash borer.
The city created an Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan in 2014 in response to the emerald ash borer (EAB) outbreak, and 2018 saw the confirmation of invasive pest in Owen Sound.
The plan will see city workers cut down about 90 infected ash trees throughout the City. Thirty-nine of the 90 trees that will be cut down this year are in the vicinity of the Inner Harbour. Other trees will be removed in areas close to the Owen Sound Visitor Centre at 1451 First Avenue West.
The city is starting with public trees that have the most severe EAB infestation symptoms. For the protection of the general public and tree workers, people are asked to avoid areas where trees are being worked on.
Residents are urged to use the City's Report a Tree Concern form to seek an inspection if they are concerned about the condition of a tree on public land. The City will examine a tree after receiving a form and follow up with the inspection findings within 15 business days.
The City approved $75,000 annually in the City's operating budget for the removal of infested ash trees over the next ten years. 20 to 30 per cent of Grey County's forests are made up of ash species susceptible to the emerald ash borer. The City inoculated 165 significant ash trees in 2016, 2018, and 2020 against emerald ash borers.
