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1. Where in Maple Grove has EAB been found?

Please visit the Minnesota Department of Agriculture emerald ash borer map to view the most up-to-date information on confirmed locations within Maple Grove.

2. How to identify if you have an ash tree on your property?

Homeowners can view helpful ash tree identification information (images and characteristics) on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website.

3. What is the life cycle of EAB?

Research shows that EAB can have a one to two-year life cycle. Adults begin emerging in mid to late May, with peak emergence in late June. Females will begin laying eggs about two weeks after emerging. Eggs hatch one to 2 weeks and bore themselves through the bark and between the bark and wood, where nutrient levels are high. The larvae feed under the bark for several weeks, typically from late July through October. The larvae reach full size of 1 to 1.25 inches long. It is very rare that an adult EAB will be sighted. Therefore, we encourage residents to look for signs and damage rather than the actual beetle itself.

4. What are the signs of EAB?

Signs can include D-shaped exit holes in the bark, vertical cracks or splits in the bark, and suckers growing on the tree trunk. One of the most noticeable signs is woodpecker damage. Winter is an optimal time for viewing infestation and then determining the next steps for spring. A chart with photos showing the different types of tree bark damage.

5. What to do if EAB has been confirmed on your ash tree?

Trees on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. If you suspect or have confirmed an EAB infestation, please contact the City of Maple Grove Public Works Department at 763-494-6370.

City code requires infested or diseased tree(s) to be removed or effectively treated to prevent the possible spread of EAB.

Treatment

Treatment can only be done if the infestation is in the early stage or as a preventative measure. Typically a tree that has EAB will need to be treated on an annual basis for the remainder of the tree's life. Most often, any treatment options or preventive applications must be done in the spring. If you decide to treat your infected tree or have questions about treatment, please contact public works or at 763-494-6370.

Options for removal

• Hire and pay for a contractor to remove the tree
• Remove the tree yourself

The best time of year to remove an EAB-infested tree is between October 1 and May 1, since this is the period when EABs are generally considered dormant.

If a resident chooses to remove the EAB-infested trees themselves, they must do so in a safe manner. Please note that it is against the law to move entire ash trees, firewood from hardwood trees, limbs, branches, ash logs, untreated ash lumber, uncomposted ash chips, and uncomposted ash bark chips greater than 1 inch in two dimensions out of EAB-quarantined counties. Map of quarantined counties in Minnesota.

6. What is the City of Maple Grove doing?

The City of Maple Grove has been preparing for the arrival of EAB for several years. In 2013, the city established a Tree Inventory Program as the foresight to the potential problems our urban forest could possibly come to expect from invasive pests, not just the Emerald Ash Borer. Through this program, numerous volunteers have donated hundreds of hours to identifying and inventorying the types, sizes, and conditions of more than 30,000 trees on residential and business properties. In 2015, city staff began working on a management plan to minimize the spread of EAB once it was discovered in neighboring cities. In 2016, the city adopted the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan that established guidelines to minimize the effects of EAB by treating or removing infested trees. In 2017, the City Council adopted an amended Shade Tree Ordinance that addresses the mitigation of EAB.

The City of Maple Grove continues to educate residents about EAB and what it will do to a community. The city newsletter, website, social media, and letters to residents are the primary communication pieces for outreach.

City staff also works with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, attends forum discussions on EAB, and works with neighboring communities to make sure that the EAB management plan makes sense for the city and its residents.