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Council hears rising tree-management needs and Emerald Ash Borer risk; U of M to help survey
Summary
Parks staff flagged a growing urban-forest challenge: many boulevard ash trees face Emerald Ash Borer risk. Staff said they are coordinating a GIS survey funded by the University of Minnesota extension to inventory diseased trees and plan removals and replacements.
Crookston City parks staff told the council they are preparing for increased tree-removal and replacement work due to Emerald Ash Borer and other threats, and that the city will work with the University of Minnesota extension on an inventory and GIS-based prioritization.
Scott (S3) said the city has a large number of ash trees and that Emerald Ash Borer is advancing toward the area: "We have a large number of ash trees in our community, and Emerald Ash Borer is moving this way rapidly." He said the city is arranging for a GIS survey (paid for by U of M extension) to identify trees that need removal, and that staff are restarting a small tree nursery at the old park shop to grow replacement trees.
Council members asked whether postponing tree work for a year would be feasible; staff warned that failing to replace canopy lost to pest-related mortality would have negative long-term effects on streetscapes and neighborhoods. The council did not adopt a separate funding action in this session but supported staff’s coordination with EDA and extension partners.
