Village accelerates removal of infected ash trees

WOODRIDGE This fall, the Village of Woodridge will begin to remove the last batch of ash trees deemed unsalvageable due to the emerald ash borer.

The village is seeking bids for the removal of roughly 1,400 infected ash trees on village-owned property, which would bring the total number of ash trees on public property lost to the invasive bug to about 3,000.

The bid process is part of an accelerated effort to remove the unsalvageable trees, according to Chris Bethel, director of Woodridge Public Works.

Weve condensed the timeline for removal because the drought of two years ago and the extreme cold this past winter really accelerated the decline [of the infected trees], Bethel said. So we recommended accelerating the removal as opposed to removing the trees over the next four years. That way we can focus on replacing the trees in years two through four.

The remaining ash tree population on public property "several hundred" are either showing signs of resistance to the ash borer or are being treated with a chemical injection to fend off the bug, whose larvae feed on the tree's vascular system and deteriorate the tree.

Public works staff members are certified and licensed to administer the chemical injections, allowing the department to handle the treatment in-house as opposed to outsourcing.

About 50 white ash trees have been treated with the chemical. This month, the Woodridge Public Works Department began tying pink ribbons around the treated trees, indicating that the trees should not be touched or disturbed.

So far the results [of the chemical treatment] have been positive, Bethel said. Were seeing a decline in the deterioration of the trees.

The village is expected to spend more than $600,000 over the next five years for treatment and removal of ash trees.

"Right now we have $150,000 budgeted for calendar years '15 and '16, $160,000 for '17 and $70,000 each in years '18 and '19. The expenditures for 2018 and 2019 are for replacement of the trees," Bethel said, adding that the timing of those expenditures will soon change in adjustment to the more condensed timeline for removal of the trees.

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Village accelerates removal of infected ash trees