SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – The City of South Portland Parks, Recreation & Waterfront department is taking action to address the invasive emerald ash borer affecting ash trees in the City and across the state and country. Parks is implementing a plan that will treat or remove affected ash trees on City property. As part of the plan, Parks will replace every tree it must remove with another native species of tree that is likely to thrive, consistent with the requirements of the City’s tree ordinance. This plan is in keeping with South Portland’s 43-year history as a Tree City USA community.
The emerald ash borer (EAB) is “one of the most serious invasive species threatening our ash resources and forests,” according to the Maine Forest Service. It is a metallic green, half-inch long beetle that attacks only ash trees. The species first appeared in the US in Michigan in 2002 and in Maine in 2018. EAB has killed hundreds of millions of trees in North America. This has caused regulators to put measures in place to prevent its spread and has prompted municipalities to take action to save our ash trees.
The Parks department’s plan, led by City Arborist Andy Gagnon, calls for staff to conduct an inventory of all ash trees growing on the City’s rights-of-way, parks, and other municipal properties. Staff will catalog every ash tree on City property and record its location, size, condition, and whether it appears to be affected by EAB. The department will systematically treat or remove ash trees based on the data.
Parks will prioritize the removal of infested or hazardous trees on City property that are dead, dying, diseased, or poorly sited. Ash trees infested with EAB decline rapidly, become brittle and break easily, posing a threat to public safety. Affected ash trees that are still in good health will be treated initially and then every two years with an injected insecticide that the State and Federal government have approved for control of this invasive species. (Pesticide use for the management of invasive insects, as defined by the Maine Forest Service, is exempt under the City’s Landcare Management Ordinance.) The goal of the treatment plan is to preserve trees that are affected but salvageable. Staff will continue to monitor the condition of these and all of the City’s ash trees. Parks will plant another native species of tree for every ash tree in need of removal. The replanting effort will follow the initial removal and treatment phase, and the department expects to plant the new trees within two to three years.
$30,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will cover the cost of the initial phase of this project occurring during the current fiscal year. The full costs, timeline, and budget for the overall project will be determined once staff complete the assessment, inventory and action plan.
Signs of EAB presence in an ash tree include woodpecker “blonding” (or flecking the outer bark), splitting of the bark, sprouts growing from the roots or trunk, an unhealthy or dead crown, and small holes shaped like a “D” in the tree. If a community member suspects the presence of EAB in a City ash tree, they should contact City Arborist Andy Gagnon at agagnon@southportland.org or (207) 767-7670.
If a resident suspects the presence of EAB in a tree on their private property, or if they would like to be proactive in preventing infestation, they may contact a licensed Maine Arborist to inspect the tree and advise a management plan. Please refer to this list of arborists licensed in the State of Maine. Those with an EAB-infected ash tree or trees on their property who intend to remove the trees should contact the City’s Code Enforcement office at (207) 767-7603 or codeenforcement@southportland.org to ensure their action plan complies with the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance.
To learn more about identifying and preventing the spread of the emerald ash borer, please visit the Maine Forest Service website.
Photos courtesy of the Maine Forest Service website.
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