The Village has received numerous calls about the tree removal at Tonawanda now that removals have begun due to EAB. Unfortunately, this area is Elm Grove’s ground zero for Emerald Ash Borer. The Forestry Department and school officials agreed, due to the safety of the children, all dead, dying and marginal trees will be removed. This will leave no trees on the site. In addition more trees in the future will be removed on the property for the same reason.
The Village over the past several years has been alerting residents about the disaster this insect has caused in other states and it has now started to really take hold here in the Village. We reported our first instance of EAB on Bobby Lane just two years ago and the pest has continued to spread throughout the Village. The Village instituted an EAB program that includes treatment and removal of trees. This program will continue with the removals starting to increase now that the infestation is worsening. With the woods in the Village Park being adjacent to Tonawanda, this will be the next location that will be hit severely which will require removals. As a large portion of the woods is ash trees, you will see some major changes in those areas as well.
Homeowners should be thinking of selective cuttings in their yards or chemical injections. The Forestry Department has been planting trees for many years and will continue to do so to ensure a healthy urban forest. For the present, the beauty of wood lots will suffer but assuredly future generations will reap the benefits of our actions now as we plant and maintain a more diverse forest. For more detailed information about our program and educational materials about EAB, please go to the Forestry page found under Public Works on our website at www.elmgrovewi.org.
Ron Hill
Village Forester
Village of Elm Grove