News Release - Emerald Ash Borer Found in Downtown Ash Trees

City of Rochester

News Release

Note to editors: City Forester Brian Liberti will be at the Upper Falls Park on Saint Paul St. from 3 to 4 p.m. today to answer questions and point out the affected trees.

(Wednesday, June 15, 2011) – An Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation has been discovered by City Forestry Division personnel in and around Upper Falls Park on St. Paul Street Downtown. Seventeen ash trees in the area appear to be infested and one of them has died. City Forester Brian Liberti, the N.Y. State Department of Environmental Conservation, and an entomologist from Cornell University inspected and took samples to confirm the presence of EAB, an exotic beetle that was imported accidentally into the United States. The invasive species has killed tens of millions of trees in other states where it has been detected.

“We planned for this eventuality and thanks to our excellent Forestry staff and funding from City Council, we have an effective plan to address this problem,” said Mayor Thomas S. Richards. “Rochester’s urban forest is vital to our quality of life, and we will do everything we can to preserve it.”

The City has been proactive in its approach to managing the ash tree population, taking steps to mitigate the impacts of EAB in public rights-of-way, parks and cemeteries. As part of its management plan, last year the City identified 4,300 trees to receive an insecticide treatment and began removing ash trees in poor condition and replacing them with trees not susceptible to EAB. Insecticide treatments began last month in the southwest portion of the city and about 20% of ash trees have already received treatment. To date the City has removed 384 ash trees and planted 75 of different species.

“Fortunately, the City did not wait until EAB was discovered within the city limits to take action,” said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Regional Director Paul D'Amato. “Right now, our best defense against this bug is a good offense and the City has certainly provided that.”

“We expected that EAB would eventually find its way to the city,” said Liberti. “We will continue with our treatment and replacement program and are currently in the process of treating City-owned ash trees within a half-mile radius of this detected infestation.”

Citizens within Monroe County with concerns about their private ash trees should talk to a certified arborist. A listing of certified arborists can be obtained by calling the Cornell Cooperative Extension helpline at 585-473-5335, Mon. to Fri., 9 a.m. to noon, or online at www.mycce.org/monroe or on the International Society of Arboriculture website at www.isa-arbor.com/publicOutreach/findATreeCareService/index.aspx.

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News Media: For more information, contact City Forester Brian Liberti at 428-6971 or Regional Forester John Gibbs, at the DEC Bath sub-office at (607) 776-2165, ext 36.