Residents Encouraged to Remove Trees Infected With Emerald Ash Borer

Published on September 04, 2024

The City of Sioux Falls is advising residents to evaluate their ash trees for signs of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation and schedule them for removal.

While Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation has removed nearly 17,000 ash trees from City-owned property since 2019, an estimated 45,000 ash trees still stand on private land posing an extreme risk to homes and property. EAB is a destructive insect that weakens ash trees from the inside out, causing them to become brittle and fall unexpectedly.

Parks and Recreation's forestry team conducts an annual survey to identify and remove dead, diseased, or insect-infested trees that may pose a risk to residents and property. The recent forest health survey condemned 530 ash trees, which tripled compared to 2023.

“What concerns us is that some people think EAB was a temporary infestation. We are here to tell you the EAB is here to stay, and we anticipate that more and more trees will be identified for removal on private property. The number of trees could easily increase from 530 this year to double or triple that number next year,” Don Kearney, Director of Parks and Recreation, said. “We don’t want private property owners to be caught off guard, so we encourage them to be proactive. Because so many ash trees are still standing on private property, consider scheduling removal this fall if your budget allows. If immediate removal isn’t possible, prioritize it for next spring.”

The longer residents wait to remove infested ash trees, the more expensive it becomes. Currently, removal by a licensed arborist costs around $800–$1,000. However, as EAB weakens the wood, removal becomes more hazardous and expensive.

John Ball, SDSU Extension forestry specialist and forest health specialist for South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources, echoed the importance of proactive measures.

“If the ash tree is dead or has only sprouts at the base, removal should be done soon. Trees with a mostly green canopy can be scheduled for next year or possibly delayed for two years, but only if they’ve been treated for EAB prevention.”

Schedule or consult a licensed arborist. A list of licensed arborists is available at siouxfalls.gov/EAB.