EAB is the enemy of ash trees – and in the North Metro crews are working to remove infected ones to prevent the spread of this tiny beetle. “It’s pretty bad,” said Christian Cancino from the Anoka County Parks department. Crews are on a mission these days to stop this invasive bug which has become an unwelcome guest in Lino Lakes. Because of EAB, over 1,000 ash trees have been removed.
“We’re cutting down all these trees that we have seen as a hazard to our park-goers…” Cancino said. “I would say pretty much every ash tree we’ve been working on is either infested or will be infested.”
Lino Lakes is a magnet for EAB which is why Anoka County is focused on that city.
“In this specific area behind Lino Lakes (close to city hall) it’s a wetland which ash love,” Cancino said. “So there’s a bunch of them that grew up here. Unfortunately once they get infected they spread it like wildfire.”
Braving the elements
Tree removal began last winter and won’t be finished for a few years.
Said Cancino: “This project is all about ash trees.”
Trees are toppled and cut up in the winter – which can be extra challenging especially in frigid temps.
“We really try and stick to the winter season, solely because the bugs are dormant.” Cancino said. “We don’t want to stir them up in the summer and parks are busier in the summer too so it poses more of a safety risk to our park patrons…Sometimes it is physically impossible to work, because it’s just either too cold for our equipment or it’s too cold for us.”
The county says this needs to be done for safety and ecological reasons.
The Emerald Ash Borer came to the US from Asia and parts of Russia. When crews finish in Lino Lakes they will move to Rice Creek and Wargo parks.
