Eagan forestry: ash losses high, oak wilt and invasive plants remain major concerns
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Summary
The City of Eagan’s forestry supervisor briefed commissioners on the city’s tree‑care priorities: emerald ash borer (EAB) is killing untreated ash trees, oak wilt and drought/insect interactions continue to stress older trees, and limited staff and enforcement capacity constrain responses on private property.
Adam, the city’s forestry supervisor (first name only in the meeting record), told the commission that Eagan is at “the top of the death curve” for ash trees and that treated ash may live if maintained on a regular protection schedule.
Adam said the city treats about 400 public ash trees and that the program aims to preserve shade in locations where removing and replacing mature trees would not immediately restore canopy values—for example at athletic complexes where mature shade is important to fields. He said treated trees require regular follow‑up treatments and that treatment cycles can be adjusted only if the pest population drops.
On oak wilt, Adam said the city is still seeing substantial numbers of affected trees and that distinguishing oak wilt from other stresses (for example, sudden oak decline driven by insects and drought) complicates diagnosis and response. He estimated the city marks roughly 120–150 trees per year (public and private) for intervention or monitoring.
The forestry supervisor said the department has expanded capacity for prescribed burning and woodland restoration. He described the city’s buckthorn removal program and a public cost‑share reimbursement for private ash removals; that program has helped prompt removals in locations where neighbors are concerned about hazardous trees.
Adam also described practical limits: enforcement actions to require removal of hazardous private trees are possible but resource‑intensive, requiring multiple letters, contractor coordination and abatement steps. He said the department responds to many resident calls — the forestry inspector alone handles most calls and the team generated hundreds of work orders and dozens of site visits last year.
Why it matters: Loss of large, mature trees affects canopy cover, shade for fields and public safety risk from dead trees. The city’s mixture of treatment, removals and replanting is meant to balance near‑term safety with long‑term canopy goals.
Adam said the city planted 158 park trees and about 350 woodland seedlings in 2024 and that the forestry team is tracking invasive species, buckthorn removal volumes and other measures of vegetation health. He encouraged public participation in volunteer invasive‑species pulls planned for spring and highlighted the city’s Tree City USA recognition and outreach programs.
Commissioners asked about private‑property removal enforcement and whether the emerald ash borer will decline over time; Adam said scientists hope populations will crash but that EAB will likely persist at lower levels for some time. He recommended regular treatment for valued ash trees and said the city’s cost‑share program helps in some private‑removal cases.
