The emerald ash borer is native to eastern Russia, northern China, Japan, and Korea. It turned up in Michigan in June of 2002, most likely from wood used in packing materials in international cargo ships.
Since its arrival, the bug has led to the death of tens of millions of ash trees.
Removing these trees can be expensive and while some cities have seen the financial bite come and go, others are still feeling it.
Eric Dresden writes in the Saginaw News that the city is unsure how it will pay for the removal of hundreds of dead ash trees. From the Saginaw News:
Of the 6,000 ash trees lining the city’s streets, Simeon Martin expects thousands could be dead by the end of this year. The cause: an emerald ash borer infestation brewing for at least nine years. “When spring comes out, that will be the tell-tale time,” said Martin, chief foreman of the city’s streets division. Last year, the city found 400 dead trees, and this year could be a lot worse, he said. Those trees were removed, and the city is continuing to take down infested ashes, Martin said. This year, he said, the infestation is expected to grow faster than crews can take down the trees.
Dresden reports the city has no money set aside for the removal of dead and dying trees, and when the trees are removed, no new trees are being planted because the city doesn't have the budget to maintain them.
