Emerald Ash Borer Discovered In Hastings

A statement made by the City Forester on Friday confirms the presence of Emerad Ash Borer in Hastings with two separate confirmations made in the last 10 days.
A resident riding a bicycle on the trails near Lock & Dam Road found an adult EAB that had landed on his person. That specimen was brought to the Parks & Recreation office, and then sent to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for analysis. The analysis confirmed the specimen as EAB. In the second instance, a resident of East Hastings contacted the MNDA to inspect five ash trees located on private property. On July 19th, 2016, the MNDA examined the trees and confirmed the presence of EAB in five ash trees and suspect infestation of a few trees in the vicinity. Their staff contacted the Parks & Recreation Department and the City Forester to report their findings.
The City has been informed that a more thorough survey of ash trees in Hastings will be conducted during the winter which allows for better examination of the tree when the foliage has dropped. The Parks & Recreation staff continue to survey ash trees (and others) within City parks, on public property, and within the public right of way for signs of disease and for hazardous conditions. The City Forester will inspect private trees upon request from the property owner. Staff have also been working on a comprehensive inventory of all trees within City parks, on public property, and within the public right of way. Residents and property owners are encouraged to contact the City Forester or a reputable tree service company if they suspect a tree of any variety is diseased, declining in health or is hazardous. The Forester or tree service employee will be able to identify if a problem exists and recommend remedies. The Hastings City Forester, Paul Mahoney, can be reached at 651-480-6177 and more information can be found in a link on the City of Hastings website. www.hastingsmn.gov/residents/forestry