Emerald Ash Borer is threat to Oakville's 177,300 ash trees Continued from page 1 3 · Friday, July 9, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com The EAB tunnels underneath the bark of ash trees, eventually doing so much damage that it destroys the tree's vascular system, killing it within five to 10 years of the initial infection. The insect was positively identified in the south Iroquois Ridge community in the summer of 2008. Oakville has approximately 177,300 ash trees, not counting any that may be located north of Dundas Street. A report submitted by the Town's Forestry Services Manager John McNeil states that for the first time in Southern Ontario the Canadian Forestry Services, in partnership with the Town of Oakville, carried out a new early warning detection grid survey method to gage the extent of EAB infestation in Oakville. The survey, which began in February and was completed in April, found that the EAB is present in about 50 per cent of Oakville's land area, however, most of the town's ash canopy is located in either the null or low portions of the insect's population density. For the moment, the greatest concentrations of EAB appear to be around Trafalgar Road between Upper Middle and North Service Roads. Many of the ash trees that will be injected with TreeAzin are in moderately infested areas surrounding this area of high infestation. The Town has already inoculated another 1,000 municipal street and park ash trees through TreeAzin injections that took place in 2008 and 2009. It is anticipated that additional areas will be recommended for treatment in 2011. McNeil said in the report that only certain ash trees will be treated with TreeAzin. He said Town staff and the Town's EAB consultant (Bioforest Technologies Inc.) are recommending that ash trees below 20 cm not be treated because it is not cost effective to treat trees of this size. Trees in woodlots will also not be treated as staff assume the natural regeneration will be much more cost effective than replanting in woodlands. Staff said trees that are structurally unsound or trees that are already heavily infested with EAB should also not receive treatment, as TreeAzin is a preventative insecticide that stops adult EABs from emerging from the larval stage. As such, TreeAzin can do little if adult insects are already present in large numbers. "Based on the most recent Town analysis, there are 450-500 street and park trees that are severely infested that will have to be removed this fall and winter and replaced in the spring of 2011 subject to budget approval," said McNeil his report. The 2010 work plan has also seen EAB traps distributed throughout the town to provide additional information about EAB distribution. The Town is also conducting a Hyperspectral Imagery Project to locate all private ash trees across Oakville so their owners can be warned. Town staff are proposing to take the money needed to combat the EAB from the forestry capital budget with another $105,000 coming from a U.S. filming company for the use of Gairloch Gardens. Besides voting to approve funding for the EAB work plan, the committee also voted to call upon the provincial and federal governments for financial support. They also called on the Canadian Forest Service, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to investigate and fund alternative treatments/tools and options for EAB management. 200 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville 905.842.0232 www.burrowsclothiers.com Sign Up On Line www.ultimatedrivers.ca DRIVING IS A PRIVILEGE, LET US HELP YOUR EARN IT 7 PROGRAMS TO CHOOSE FROM: · Defensive Driving Certificate Program - MTO Approved Minimizes Road Test Time and Qualifies for Maximum Insurance Discount · Advance Defensive Driving Program Minimizes Road Test Time, Qualifies for Maximum Insurance Discount and Teaches You Emergency Skills · Driver Retraining Program for Reinstating Driver's License · Complete Refresher Program Prepares you for G2 or G License · Refresher Program Helps Reviewing your Driving Habits for Test · Preparation and Evaluation Warm Up Practice Before the Test · Winter Time Driving Program Helps Overcom Your Winter Driving Jitters 17 Years ent of Excell Service s r r TM JULY 19 22 AUG. 2 5 OFF AUG. 16 19 AUG. 30 SEPT. 2 the Regular Price 4 DAY PROGRAMS $50 SUMMER SPECIAL L LTIMATE DRIVERS A "Training Safe Drivers of Tomorrow" T T r Proud Sponsors of the Joey McColm Team e T ® 407 Speers Road 905-825-1172 Suite 205