City Arborist Jeff Tarling at a Recent City Council Meeting During Which he was Named a Paul Harris Fellow Bestowed Upon Him by the Portland Rotary Club.

An invasive beetle, known as the “Emerald Ash Boer” (EAB) is an ongoing threat to Ash trees in Portland.  This EAB has killed hundreds of millions of Ash trees in 35 states and 5 Canadian provinces as well, according to Portland’s Forestry team.

It is expected that the EAB will greatly impact Ash trees in Portland and Southern Maine next year and over the years to come.  One can assume that all Ash trees are infected.  Unfortunately, Ash trees decline quickly and become brittle adding to the risk created.  Portland’s Forestry staff has been working with the Maine Forest Service (MFS) for the past five years on survey and planning for this outbreak.

The first removal of many infested Ash trees happened on Portland’s District Road, where the infestation is regionally affecting Portland, South Portland and Westbrook.  So far, the infestation has been sporadic but expected to ramp up in the following years to all nearby communities placing Ash trees at risk.  Seven Ash trees in the Lincoln Middle School (LMS) parking lot are infected and slated to be removed and replaced with LMS students involved.

Portland’s Forestry staff are also working with the MFS and US Forest Service on a biological control project for Ash tree woodlands along the Presumpscot River, details to follow late Winter.  A few Greater Portland communities including Portland have been actively treating Ash trees as a preventative; Portland has received a grant from the Maine Forest Service.  Treatment for Ash trees is ideally done in May and June.