Salem city officials are organizing a response to the recent local detection of a “highly destructive” insect that quickly kills ash trees.
Emerald ash borers were first confirmed in Marion, Clackamas and Yamhill counties by the Oregon Department of Agriculture on Aug. 28. They’re “highly destructive” invasive insects that target ash trees and deprive them of the ability to transport nutrients and water, eventually killing them. The small metallic green insects were first found in Oregon in Washington County on June 30, 2022.
That discovery prompted Salem’s urban forestry, parks, natural resources planning and stormwater quality staff to spring into action.
For the last two years, the city has worked with state forestry and agriculture departments on a plan to remove ash trees in poor condition and protect healthy ones. In anticipation of the ash borer making its way to Marion County, city officials have removed around 100 ash trees in the area and stopped planting the tree three years ago.
When the ash borer comes in, “it’s a pretty quick turnaround,” Salem’s urban forester Milan Davis said. Trees infested with emerald ash borers have a 99% probability of dying and are “gone” in three years, according to Davis.
The city’s response plan is to inject ash trees with insecticide to combat Emerald ash borers.
Insecticide injections will likely start next spring, and treat an estimated 1,000 ash trees. The trees will need new injections every two to three years.
Davis said that the first round of insecticide injections will go to low-income areas as the response plan will prioritize parts of the city with low levels of tree canopy.
Oregon’s agriculture department placed Marion County, and three others, in a permanent quarantine, barring all ash, olive and white fringe tree materials from being moved outside of the quarantined counties.
The ash borers mainly spread through infested firewood moving around. In addition to firewood, the quarantine restricts the movement of logs, mulch, stumps and nursery stock.
Signs of emerald ash borers include thinning tree canopies, D-shaped holes, bark splitting and winding S-shaped marks.
If people see signs of emerald ash borers, they can report to the Oregon Department of Agriculture by email, [email protected], or phone, 1-866-INVADER.
Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].
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Madeleine Moore is working as a reporter at Salem Reporter through the University of Oregon’s Charles Snowden internship program. She came to Salem after graduating from the University of Oregon in June 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
