The emerald ash borer continues to prove to be a pest as it spreads throughout the state.
The city of Brookings is the latest to report an infestation of the insect.
The city of Brookings is working to stay ahead of the invasive Emerald Ash Borer; also known as EABs.
Josh Bauman is the Assistant Director of Parks, Recreation, and Forestry for the City of Brookings. He said the city has been making preparations since 2018.
“Since it was found back, I think, in 2018, in South Dakota, it’s kind of a pattern with EAB. We knew it was just a matter of time before it did show up. So, we had just been going to training, just preparing for it. We did put together an EAB management plan. And the city forestry department has been actively working through some of that plan, just in preparation for EAB,” said Bauman.
The emerald ash borer has now been verified in a large section of the southeastern part of the state. Bauman said the only action city officials can take is prevention.
“Removing specific trees, just to slow the spread of it when it did arrive. We are just going to continue on with that plan, and work through it. We will remove trees as needed, or we will treat trees as needed. We will be injecting trees, which will happen every two years, to prevent them from getting EAB. We will just continue to work through that management plan that we have in place,” said Bauman.
The species creates tunnels in ash trees that inhibit the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients.
Individual city response and preventative measures help reduce the spread, but Bauman said it’s a battle that no one can win.
The emerald ash borer is most commonly spread by moving ash firewood form infested areas to non-infested areas.
The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources suggests replacing ash trees, removing infested trees, and treating trees that are infected.
