(COLUMBIA, MO) -
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has awarded the City of Columbia and the Columbia Tree Board a $10,000 Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant. The purpose of the grant is to provide education and outreach on the City's efforts to protect its ash trees against an emerald ash borer infestation. The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive species of beetle that feeds on ash trees and ultimately kills them.
MDC has reported the discovery of the beetle in Boone County including parts of Columbia. Columbia Parks and Recreation has also found signs of the beetle while removing a tree in Paquin Park.
A concentration of ash trees has been identified in a southwest neighborhood along Grant Lane in the City's right of way that could be vulnerable. The City arborist plans to begin treatment of the ash trees in order to protect them from the beetle. Any trees that pose a threat to other ash trees or to public safety due to deterioration would potentially be removed.
"Grant Lane is lined with ash trees which make up approximately one-third of the street trees in this area," City of Columbia Arborist Steve Fritz said. "A majority of the trees in this neighborhood are currently in fair to excellent condition so we'd like to do what we can to preserve them for as long as we are able."
The City arborist will be working to inform the public of the City's actions to mitigate any infestation and to educate the public on what community members can do to manage their own ash trees. Columbia's newly established Tree Board will be presented with possible management strategies and outreach opportunities to deal with the emerald ash borer beginning with a public outreach campaign. Outreach will include workshops for the public, an advertising campaign, partnerships with local school groups and an information portal within the City's website. The grant will also fund the updating of the City's inventory data on ash trees, which was last updated in 2014 by Columbia Public Works. This updated inventory will be used for management decisions outlined in the City's Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan.
The TRIM grant is for $10,000 with an additional $4,880 in kind contribution from the City, which was approved at the City Council meeting on Nov. 18 (Council Bill 334-19).
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