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Chisago County was placed in ash tree EAB quarantine status a couple years ago when a population of Emerald Ash Borers made their way into southernmost Chisago.  Emerald Ash Borers (EAB) were first found in the state in 2009 and are in much of the southern third of Minnesota. The EAB typically takes about five years to kill a host tree.

This winter,  the cities of Stacy and Lindstrom have received notice the borers have infested properties within those towns.  Staff with the MN Department of Agriculture have sent regulatory notices for the cities to review and to ask officials to consider programs for removal/replacement or treatment.  

The important point the agriculture department seeks to stress is to not move ash tree wood that can harbor the EAB.  It is illegal to market firewood that travels out of a quarantine  county. Wood can be treated to kill the insect but a license is needed to certify the wood is clean.

Keep ash tree wood that you have cut as close to its homesite as possible.  The property owner can burn on the same site where it was cut.

Residents of Stacy will be getting a mailing the city council agreed having sent at the last city council session.  Lindstrom City Council is meeting tonight (Jan 19) in regular session and may or may not discuss the findings.

Owners of parcels that have ash trees are advised to be felling ill trees now until April.  If you plan to treat an infested tree the sampling to check for presence of EAB should also be done now before warm-up. Treatment is provided by arborists.

The state experts feel if an ash is infested in a natural area and they don’t pose hazards to persons or property they can be left to die and fall apart.

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