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Moorhead outlines emerald ash borer management plan: remove small ash, treat larger trees every three years
Summary
Moorhead staff presented an Emerald Ash Borer management plan on Aug. 28 that calls for removing small ash trees, chemically treating larger retained trees every three years and replanting with a diverse mix of species to reduce pest vulnerability.
City staff described Moorhead’s emerald ash borer (EAB) management plan to the Moorhead Park Advisory Board on Aug. 28, outlining a multi‑year program of removals, replanting and chemical treatment intended to slow spread and preserve a portion of the urban canopy.
Staff said the city’s inventory recorded about 6,500 city‑owned ash trees, representing roughly 26% of inventoried city trees. The plan described by staff calls for removing ash trees 11 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH) or smaller, and removing larger ash trees that show poor health or structural problems. Staff said the objective is to reduce the city‑owned ash population to roughly 5,000 trees as removals and replanting proceed.
For larger, retained ash trees the city is using injections of emamectin benzoate; staff said injections are taken up by trees in spring and provide protection for about three years. Staff described this as a repeating cycle — treating protected trees every three years — and said the program aims to create a local reduction in pest survival near treated trees.
Staff noted that ash trees are prevalent in parks and boulevards and that about 225 park ash trees are smaller diameter trees targeted for removal or replacement. Staff listed parks with higher ash concentrations, including Village Green, Ridgewood, Riverview Estates, Angles and Horizon Shores, and said the city will treat many larger boulevard and park ash trees and remove younger ash in the inventory strategy.
The timeline staff presented begins with removals and treatments started in 2023; staff plan to complete the primary removal phase between 2024 and 2027 to reach the 5,000‑tree target. Staff also pointed to online tools on the city forestry website where residents can view planned treatments and removals and a broader tree plotter that maps maintained trees.
When asked about homeowner action, staff said private property owners are responsible for trees on their properties and encouraged residents to review treatment options and consult forestry staff. Staff emphasized that the city maintains maintained-area trees (boulevards and parks) and that unmaintained riparian areas may see more natural ash mortality.
No formal vote was taken; staff said they will continue removals, treatments and replanting and will update the board as conditions change.
