Emerald Ash Borer

An Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation was confirmed in White Bear Lake in late summer 2017. White Bear Lake has an abundance of ash trees growing on public and private property. A 2010 DNR survey estimated more than 11,000 ash trees growing within maintained areas of the city. With perhaps 30% of those trees growing on city property, a large number of these trees grow on private property.

What is Emerald Ash Borer?

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle from Asia that was discovered in the United States during the summer of 2002 near Detroit, Michigan. EAB larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees and disrupt the tree‘s ability to transport water and nutrients, killing the tree. Once an ash tree is infested, it has almost zero chance of survival unless it is treated in time. EAB populations can grow exponentially each year because the beetle has few natural predators and our ash trees have limited natural defenses.  When EAB is not managed, annual ash tree deaths can quickly overwhelm the ability to remove dead and dying trees.

Management Program

Ash tree owners will need to decide whether or not to protect or remove their ash trees. Infested trees rarely show signs of light to moderate EAB attack, making the early stages difficult to diagnose. By the time symptoms are obvious, it may be too late to protect or save the tree.  The City is currently taking a full inventory of all ash trees growing along street boulevards and park spaces and putting together a multi-faceted plan that involves treatment of high value "specimen" ash trees, selective ash tree removal, and careful tree replacement using a diverse mix of tree species.

Residents are encouraged to treat large, well-placed, healthy private ash trees as part of an EAB treatment program. Trees considered good candidates for treatment are greater than 10” in diameter and not competing with other trees or infrastructure. The cost to treat a large, healthy ash tree for 10 to 20 years is substantially less than the price of tree and stump removal.

Treatment Options

Through a partnership with Rainbow Treecare, White Bear Lake residents have protected 364 ash trees from Emerald Ash Borer so far in 2020!  It’s not too late to save your ash tree this year.  Rainbow Treecare offers city-wide discounts to residents to treat their trees. 

Homeowners have the option to use any tree care service that is licensed in the City.  Find below currently licensed tree care contractors and a list of alternate trees and shrubs that could be planted in White Bear Lake - look for Cold Hardy Zone 4. 

Removal

Removal of dead, diseased and dying trees on private property is the responsibility of the property owner. Below, there is a link to a list of registered tree contractors in the City of White Bear Lake. It is always a good idea to get multiple bids when considering the removal of a tree. The City does not provide inspections or determinations on the health of trees on private property unless there is a concern that the tree is a public nuisance as defined in the Municipal Code section 706.030.

In cases where it is determined that a tree is a public nuisance the City may require the tree to be removed. If a property owner fails to remove the tree after receiving notice by the City to do so, the City may proceed with removal of the tree and assess associated costs to the property. In cases where the nuisance tree is located in the public right-of-way (boulevard), the homeowner will be responsible for 50% of the cost of removal. For questions regarding the removal of trees in the right-of-way (boulevard) please call Public Works at 651-747-3650.

Resources

Emerald Ash Borer Program (Minnesota Department of Agriculture)
EAB Status Map (Minnesota Department of Agriculture)
Emerald Ash Borer (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
Emerald Ash Borer Information Network
Mistaken Identity - Minnesota Insects Often Confused with EAB (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)