More Than 300 Ash Trees to Come Down in Cedar Rapids

An adult emerald ash borer is shown in this photo released by Michigan State University. The pest dines on ash trees, and so far, it has killed or injured 20 million trees since 2002. Robin Pruisner, Iowa's state entomologist, says Michigan authorities have told her the bug has probably crossed Iowa's border. But investigators haven't found any in more than two years of checking. (AP Photo/Michigan State University, File)

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Jan 4, 2011 at 11:59 AM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 4, 2011 at 7:25 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Cedar Rapids will be removing more than 300 ash trees over the next three months in an attempt to head off an emerald ash borer infestation, city officials said today.

The ash borer was found in Allamakee County in May. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recommends each community “determine the apparent health of the trees. If some ash trees are declining, dying or in poor condition, remove them and replace, with a species to improve the diversity of the area.”

The ash borer is a small green invasive wood boring beetle that attacks and kills ash trees. The ash borer is native to eastern Asia and was detected in the United States near Detroit, Mich. in 2002. It has since killed tens of millions of ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone, with tens of millions more lost in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin as well as Ontario and Quebec, Canada.

A key factor in the spread is human activity. Residents should purchase and use only local firewood to avoid transporting the Borer with the wood. For further information, visit the EAB section of the Iowa DNR Forestry website at www.iowadnr.gov

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