Reminder: Emerald ash borer workshop at UT Arboretum this evening

 

The Oak Ridge Tree Board is hosting a workshop focused on the impact of the emerald ash borer in the area. The event, scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, August 29, will provide important information regarding the emerald ash borer for property owners, landscapers, and others involved in the maintenance of green spaces, a press release said.

Ash trees make up a significant percentage of the urban forest in the area and have traditionally been a landscaping staple. Many of these trees in Oak Ridge are already dead or beyond treatment, but a significant number can be saved. At the workshop this evening, experts from around the area will address issues that include the identification of affected ash trees and responses to emerald ash borer infestation, including appropriate treatment.

Attendees will learn about these pests, their origin, and spread across the country, as well as the techniques used in diverse areas ranging from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to urban areas, such as Knoxville and surrounding municipalities.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. on August 29 at the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium, located just off South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. Refreshments will be served prior to the workshop and there is no cost to attend. Scheduled speakers include representatives from the National Park Service, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the University of Tennessee’s Urban Forestry extension, and the U.S. Department of Energy.

What:	Workshop – “The Ash Tree Demise: What is the Emerald Ash Borer and What Can We do About it?”
When:	Tuesday, August 29, 2017 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Refreshments at 5:30)
Where:	UT Arboretum Auditorium 901 South Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

The public, specialists in the field, and all interested parties are encouraged to attend the workshop. For more information, call (865) 272-6512 or visit ored.oakridgetn.gov and click on “Emerald Ash Borer” under the “Learn About” section.

Oak Ridge Today has previously reported that the emerald ash borer could kill most ash trees in Oak Ridge, and the cost to treat or remove the trees that pose a threat to the city’s electric system has been estimated at $662,000.

The emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients.

The City of Oak Ridge said in May that ash trees in Oak Ridge are dead or dying due to the emerald ash borer. Once compromised by the beetle, the city said then, the trees pose a significant hazard to people, property, and power lines.

“The impact of this pest is extreme,” Oak Ridge Electric Director Jack L. Suggs said in a June 27 memo to City Manager Mark Watson. “We expect virtually 100 percent death of all ash trees in the city, with only trees receiving ongoing chemical treatment surviving. Many of these trees will impact our power lines, in addition to other public facilities such as parks and streets.”

See our previous stories on the emerald ash borer here.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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