Emerald Ash Borer / Tree Replacement on Private Property

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation has been confirmed throughout the Village. It can be difficult to detect until the branches of an infected tree begin to die. The most visible sign is crown dieback, which appears after the first year of infestation. Usually the leaves on the upper third of the tree will begin to thin and the branches will begin to die. A number of suckers and branches will also sprout from the base of the tree and on the trunk. The bark may also split vertically and woodpeckers may begin to feed on the beetle larvae leaving visible damage on the bark. Adult beetles emerging from trees will leave a very small 1/8 inch diameter distinctly D-shaped exit hole that may appear anywhere on the trunk or upper branches. Distinct S-shaped larval feeding tunnels may also be apparent under the bark. Typically, the tree will die in about three years.

Unfortunately, too much of the Village’s Ash Tree canopy is now dead and many trees show no sign of life. According to Section 159.30 (C)(3)(i), The Village requires the replacement of dead or diseased trees (at a 1:1 ratio) with one of the approved species: