The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Miamisburg prepares for ash borer

File photo Emerald Ash Borer

Police called to Eastwood Lake on reports of a windsurfer in the water
New 6 min. ago
Victim identified in fatal shooting outside restaurant
11:31 a.m.
H1N1 flu suspected in Preble County officer’s death, sheriff says
11:18 a.m.
Coroner confirms identities of three men killed in arson
11/7/09
Former Mead Data Central leader dies
11/7/09
> More headlines

By Kristin McAllister, Staff Writer 7:52 AM Wednesday, July 1, 2009

MIAMISBURG — With several nearby communities having infestations of the Emerald Ash Borer, Miamisburg parks officials expect to confirm by August that the insect has made its way into ash trees throughout some of the city’s parks, golf courses and common areas.

Cases of the invasive Asian insect have been confirmed in Canadian provinces and in 12 states nationwide, including in Montgomery County in the Miami Valley, but none have been recorded in Miamisburg.

A typical ash borer infestation advances about one-half mile a year. And given the close proximity of Miamisburg to Springboro, where officials in 2006 recorded the first known infestation in that community, Miamisburg parks officials Friday, June 26, said they expect to find the pesky insect throughout the community in August, when ash borer larvae is more evident.

“I’m pretty certain we’ll find that we have them,” said Larry Early, Miamisburg Parks and Facilities supervisor.

Early is finishing up a GIS map of all ash trees in Miamisburg parks, downtown areas and most right-of-ways, with the exception of two golf courses, both of which contain numerous ash trees.

Trees may be treated chemically to stave an infestation, but once a tree is treated, it must be treated annually for the duration of its life, said Doug Voss, Miamisburg Parks and Facilities superintendent.

For that reason, the city is assessing the number of trees it plans to treat permanently, temporarily and those that will be removed and replaced with a different tree species.

To date, the city has treated about 76 trees deemed in good health and has about another 75 planned for treatment.

That number could vary, Voss said, depending on city budget costs.

Chemical treatment is about 70 cents per tree diameter inch, plus labor.

Treatment costs for 2009 are estimated at $600 to $1,000, plus labor, he said.

Voss said his department also will work with residents in helping them deal with the pesky insect.

For more information, visit www.dnr.state.oh.us or www.ci.miamisburg.oh.us.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-9338 or kmcallister@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Online

Share this article