Citywide EAB Management Strategies

Emerald Ash Borer Management

Forestry employs carefully planned management strategies to slow the spread of the emerald ash borer (EAB). Strategies such as monitoring, sanitation, and insecticide treatment work to slow the population of EAB in Saint Paul. Strategies such as structured removal remove blocks of infested ash trees and allows for new trees to be planted. This multifaceted approach to managing EAB will spread out the cost of EAB management over a longer, more manageable period of time and allow for a more efficient response. The following is a comprehensive list of strategies along with descriptions for reducing the population of EAB. For more information on emerald ash borer, view this FAQ.

Current Year Management Plan: City of Saint Paul Emerald Ash Borer Management Program

Monitoring

  • Forestry staff survey city boulevard trees to identify infested boulevard ash trees annually between January and April. The removal of publicly owned infested ash tree is a priority for Forestry.
  • Forestry no longer surveys private properties for EAB infested trees due to a lack of personnel to complete the survey. However, private property ash trees that die from EAB and become dangerous may still require removal according to city ordinance.
  • Forestry staff inspect public property ash trees for EAB upon the request of citizens. Contact a licensed tree care company if you want your private property ash inspected.

Sanitation

  • Following best management practices set by the state, public ash trees are removed prior to the emergence of EAB in the summer.
  

Insecticide Treatment

  • Insecticide treatments have been in use since 2011 on public property ash trees in Saint Paul.
  • Treatment of public trees is employed as a means of slowing the increase of EAB populations.
  • Criteria for boulevard ash tree treatment:
    • 10–20 inches DBH (diameter at breast height).
    • Good overall health without structural defects.
    • Good growing location with no overhead utility conflicts.
  • Public trees are currently being treated with TREE-age® (active ingredient Emamectin benzoate) via the trunk injection method.

Public Ash Tree being treated with Tree-age 

Structured Removal

  • This program is the removal of blocks of ash trees with the goal of reducing the overall amount of ash trees on public lands in Saint Paul.
  • These blocks will have trees replanted in the Spring or Fall after the ash trees are removed.
  • Click here for additional information on structured removal.

Structured Removal of Ash on the East Side 

Branch Sampling

  • Forestry is partnered with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the University of Minnesota, and the U.S. Forest Service on two projects that sample public ash trees to detect the presence of EAB and beneficial parasitic wasps released in the area since 2011. The Cities of Minneapolis, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, and Roseville have also joined the effort.
      		 Branch samples ready for debarking 

      Collaborative Efforts

      • Forestry works collaboratively with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the United States Forest Service, the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as well as neighboring communities on developing best management practices for reducing the spread of EAB.
      • The MDA is an indispensable partner, providing general assistance in EAB management, ash surveys, EAB biocontrol releases, and public outreach.
      		 EAB biocontrol release in the Summit-Dale area