Local News

EAB Threat Forces DeWitt County To Take Plan of Action

The Emerald Ash Borer's eminent presence in DeWitt County is threatening the county's Ash Tree Population.

Early in the fall, the EAB was discovered in the county. The threatening beatle feasts on Ash Trees and was discovered north of Clinton Lake. Steve Lobb is an arborist for the City of Clinton, he says there are some very large Ash Trees in DeWitt County that are in danger.

[audio:101211eab1.mp3]A Word From Lobb[/audio]

Jeff Squib is the Communications Manager with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, he says detecting the beetle before the tree is showing signs of distress is incredibly difficult. While not impossible, the beetle is difficult to see, as it is smaller than a penny, however, it is a bright green metallic color.

[audio:101911eab5.mp3]A Word From Squib[/audio]

The EAB has been rapidly spreading throughout the state the past several years. John Baker with the Clinton Tree Commission says it was only a matter of time before the beatle made its way to DeWitt County. He adds it certainly has the potential to wipe out the Ash Tree population in the county, and a plan is in place should that happen.

[audio:121611eab.mp3]A Word From Baker[/audio]

The emerald ash borer' larvae burrow into the bark of ash trees, causing the trees to starve and eventually die.  While the beetle does not pose any direct risk to public health, it does threaten the ash tree canopy. 25 counties in the northeastern and central part of the state are under quarantine to slow the spread of the beetle.  The quarantine prohibits the intrastate movement of potentially-contaminated wood products, including ash trees, limbs and branches and all types of firewood. DeWitt was recently added to those quarantine boundaries.

Townhall Top of the Hour News

Local Weather - Sponsored By:

CLINTON WEATHER

Local News

DeWittDN on Facebook