Emerald Ash Borer - Trees Being Removed and Replaced
In May 2018, staff presented to the South Burlington City Council on the topic of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). EAB is an exotic beetle that was discovered in Michigan in 2002 that feeds on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients, resulting in the killing of hundreds of millions of ash trees nationwide. Unfortunately, EAB has arrived in Vermont and Chittenden County.
The most effective management option for EAB has proven to be the proactive removal of ash trees. The City Council, in their last two voter-approved budgets, included money to hire contractors to begin the removal. Additionally, City staff will be removing trees over the winter months in between snow events.
This effort is expected to take at least five years and will include the planting of new, replacement trees in all locations where the ash trees are removed.
South Burlington owns almost 800 emerald ash trees lining the roads of a handful of neighborhoods – mainly the Village at Dorset Park and the area between the golf course and Spear Street off Nowland Farm Road.