Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Denver to pivot emerald ash borer response, focus treatment on high‑value trees and scale planting program
Summary
City Forester Luke Killoren and Parks staff told council the emerald ash borer (EAB) is now established in Denver; the department will pivot from broad preventative chemical treatments to protecting larger, high‑value trees and removing and replacing others, and will temporarily reduce planting numbers while improving survival rates.
Luke Killoren, City Forester for Denver Parks and Recreation, told the council committee the city has shifted its strategy after the emerald ash borer (EAB) was found in Denver.
“We're talking about a 95, almost 99% success rate for preserving, protecting those trees from the EAB,” Killoren said of chemical treatments used in the program historically. But he and other Parks staff said treating every private and small‑diameter public ash tree indefinitely is not financially sustainable now that the pest is established.
Why it matters: Ash trees account for an estimated 15% of Denver’s tree canopy. How the city manages EAB will affect urban canopy, shade, property values and maintenance budgets…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
