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City reviews emerald ash borer treatment plan; staff cites canopy, water and pollution benefits
Summary
City of Victoria staff and partner Rainbow Tree Care reviewed the city's emerald ash borer management, describing treatment cycles, benefits to canopy coverage and stormwater interception, and an upcoming public presentation on May 21.
City of Victoria staff on March 17, 2025, reviewed the municipality’s emerald ash borer (EAB) management plan and described treatment cycles, scope and measured environmental benefits reported by partner firm Rainbow Tree Care.
Parks staff said public trees are treated on a three-year cycle and private trees are typically treated every other year; the city maintains a catalog of treated trees and adjusts counts when trees are removed or planted. Staff reported the city’s average ash-tree diameter at breast height (DBH) is about 15.5 inches and that the canopy protected by treatment is roughly equivalent to coverage of four football fields.
Staff discussed measured benefits from last year’s treatments: approximately 875,786 gallons of stormwater interception attributed to the protected canopy and nearly 400,000 pounds of carbon dioxide avoided — a figure staff described as equivalent to burning about 20,000 gallons of gasoline. Early detection and treatment, staff said, reduces the need and cost of removing dead trees that EAB infestations can cause.
City staff said residents may receive outreach from Rainbow Tree Care and that a public presentation by Rainbow Tree Care is scheduled for May 21 as part of the city’s “Donuts in Victoria” event at the Victoria Recreation Center. Staff said the company will provide information for homeowners who want private-property treatment, and that a postcard flyer will be mailed to residents with details.
Committee members asked whether ash trees remain acceptable in new plantings. Staff answered that ash is a native species and there is no city ordinance banning their planting on private property. Staff noted the city catalogs boulevard trees and tags those that are part of the treatment program.
The presentation emphasized that the EAB is an invasive wood-boring beetle from Asia that can kill untreated ash trees and that canopy preservation supports air quality, soil stabilization and biodiversity. Staff encouraged residents to consult the city’s online tree inventory for more details and to attend the May 21 presentation for guidance on private-tree treatment.
