Emerald Ash Borer Alert

Below is from Montgomery Parks about the threat of Emerald Ash Borer.  They are currently NOT focusing on tree removal in the Little Falls Stream Valley Park, but we have Ash trees in the Little Falls watershed and we will see tree removal at some point.

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This is a follow-up email related to Montgomery Parks’ emerald ash borer work. As you may recall, the emerald ash borer is a non-native, invasive beetle that will cause all ash trees in the county to die within one to three years of infestation. Montgomery Parks’ arboriculture team has begun removing infested trees from the Rock Creek Stream Valley. Ash trees slated for removal have green dots painted on them. Signs with information about emerald ash borer are posted along trails where trees are being removed. We anticipate the removal of thousands of ash trees on parkland in the coming 3-5 years.  

To date, 85% of parks have been inventoried for ash trees and their condition and the following areas have been prioritized for ash tree removal:

·        Rock Creek Stream Valley

·        Sligo Creek Stream Valley

·        Paint Branch Stream Valley

·        Northwest Branch Stream Valley

The arboriculture team is continually monitoring tree conditions to update priorities. Additional information about the emerald ash borer and Montgomery Parks plan to address the issue is available at www.MontgomeryParks.org/EAB.

Please share this information with the members of your community and/or organizations.  Please contact Colter Burkes, Senior Urban Forester, with any questions or concerns. You may reach him by email at colter.burkes@montgomeryparks.org or by phone at 301-495-2469.

Thank you for your assistance in helping us inform the public about this issue.

Henry Coppola

Stream & Park Cleanup Coordinator│Volunteer Services Office

Public Affairs & Community Partnerships Division

Montgomery Parks│M-NCPPC