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EAB Management in Lakeville
What Is the City of Lakeville Doing to Manage EAB?
After EAB was discovered in Lakeville in 2017, the City conducted a tree inventory of over 15,000 trees on public and private property to estimate the percent of ash trees in the community. Using this information, the Forestry Division assessed the potential impact of EAB on Lakeville’s forest in order to create an Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan (PDF). The intent of the plan was to outline the next steps the City will take to minimize the impact of EAB in an orderly and effective manner. The City Council passed the Shade Tree Epidemic Pest Control Ordinance to help mitigate the effects of epidemic-level tree pests and diseases.
Ash trees on public property like street boulevards in the City-owned right-of-way and in parks are being managed for EAB using a combination of activities. These include inspections and monitoring for the pest, preservation by injection, infested tree removal and proactive phased tree and stump removals. Replacement planting will occur in park areas and select boulevards only.
To preserve established trees that contribute to the community’s canopy, the City injects ash trees in parks and boulevards. Ash trees that are in good/fair condition and are greater than 10” in stem diameter are the prime candidates for injection. If you think there is an ash tree in the boulevard near your property that merits protection, call 952-985-2726.
Ash tree removals are occurring in phases to spread out the environmental and financial impact of EAB. In 2019, the City began systematically scouting boulevards and parks for treated ash trees in poor to fair condition. Ash trees considered to be in poor condition were taken off the treatment list and marked for removal. The City will continue phasing out poor to fair condition ash trees to reduce overall treatment cost and to open space for future tree planting.
Forestry staff inspect public property for ash trees that have become infested with EAB. If an ash tree is determined to be infested, it is marked for removal. Removal of infested ash trees is conducted by City staff or our contractor and takes place over winter when the adult beetles are not active to reduce the risk of spreading EAB to surrounding trees.
All wood and brush debris from removed trees is chipped and/or removed from the site. Stumps of the removed trees are ground out or cut as low to the ground as possible, depending on the location of the tree.
If you believe you have identified a City-owned ash tree that has not been treated and is showing signs of EAB, contact the Forestry Division at 952-985-2724.
The City offers free ash tree inspections on private property. You can request an inspection on your property if you see signs of EAB. If the tree is considered healthy enough to save, the City offers an Ash Tree Injection Program to the public. This program provides a discounted rate to residents to treat private property ash trees by a City contractor. If the tree is too far infested, the City can offer advice on how to hire a removal contractor. Contact Public Works at 952-985-2711 to set-up an appointment.
For more information on managing EAB on your property, visit our Prepare for EAB in Your Yard webpage.
Ash Tree Replacement Project in City Parks
Lakeville Forestry is managing an ash tree replacement project in community parks where ash trees comprise a large percentage of the existing tree canopy. The replacements are being completed through a grant-funded project in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In total, the project plans to replace 150 ash trees with 360 new trees over three years. Selected ash trees will be marked with red paint and removed in the winter. Over the summer, stumps will be removed and the sites restored. In the fall, a diverse selection of new trees will be planted, with two new trees planted for each ash tree removed. Watering and seasonal maintenance will continue for three years to help the trees establish. Diversifying our shade tree canopy will reduce the impacts of future shade tree diseases and pests, and lead to a more resilient community forest.
2026
- Bunker Hill Park
- Highview Heights Park
- Steve Michaud Park
- Valley Lake Park
- Village Creek Park