If you’ve noticed more trees cut down in the city of Manitowoc recently, there’s a good reason for it. Emerald Ash Borer has taken its toll on ash trees, particularly in our parks. Seehafer News spoke with Billy Hutterer, Operations Manager for the Department of Public Infrastructure.
Hutterer said they saw the first infected trees with EAB in July of 2017.
“Currently, the majority of the ash trees throughout the city, including parks, street terraces, and private property, are seeing the ash borer infection, so it is a majority of trees that are infected.”
While the majority of trees in the city are maple, around 10-percent are of the ash variety, not including private property. Hutterer explains they’re currently removing diseased ash trees in Lincoln Park.
“It is probably going to be more of the 25 to 30 percent ratio of trees that’ll be removed, so some locations a little heavier than others.”
As for the timing of tree removal, Hutterer says, “When they are infected it takes about 1-to-5 years depending on the size of the tree that they actually will die. Once they’re dead, the trees become an extreme safety hazard and by removing them now they do have some value.”
He added, “We’re able to sell some for saw logs, some for firewood and we’re able to get money back to offset some of the costs. But, if wait until they’re all dead we have a safety hazard as well as they don’t have any value.”
He indicated they do plan on starting a replanting program.
“We did receive a DNR grant this year that we’re going to use to remove some of the ash trees in the street terrace areas, as well as replanting.” Adding, “We also have some donations we received to plant trees, and we do have a memorial tree program where people can buy a tree and have it planted in a park or cemetery. “
As for the labor involved in tree removal, Billy Hutterer says the city “tries to do as much as they can in-house, but there are certain situations where they hire outside contractors to do the work, especially around wires.
