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Westford begins planning after emerald ash borer confirmed in town
Summary
Westford officials discussed an EAB response after a state finding flagged infected ash trees; the town will prioritize hazardous trees near homes and roads, coordinate road crew and volunteers, and avoid moving infected wood across town lines.
Kirstin Tyler briefed the Westford Selectboard on April 23 about the town’s identification on state lists as having emerald ash borer (EAB) and urged a prioritized response for trees posing immediate hazards. Tyler said an employee noticed an infected tree while driving a town road and that infected ash trees become brittle and can fall onto houses or vehicles if not addressed.
Tyler outlined next steps: identify and remove priority trees near houses and roads, monitor remaining ash trees, and coordinate removal work between the road crew, the Tree Warden, and volunteer groups. She asked that the Westford Conservation Commission not be the lead organizer for volunteers because of other commitments, and the board discussed using a combination of staff and volunteers for monitoring and removals. Tyler emphasized that infected wood should not be moved across town lines to limit spread; recent studies show surrounding towns already report EAB presence.
