<br><tt><font size=2>Emerald Ash Borer has been confirmed in Fairfax County!
Read on to see what's being done and what you can do! <br>
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<br><tt><font size=2>-Patricia<br>
<br>
----- Forwarded by Patricia De Angelis/ARL/R9/FWS/DOI on 07/10/2008 09:16
AM ----- <br>
<br>
<br>
WHAT'S BEING DONE...<br>
<br>
On Monday, July 7 the Forest Pest Branch of the Urban Forest Management<br>
Division, DPWES received a phone call from the Virginia Department of<br>
Forestry (VDOF) requesting an inspection of ash trees located near Campbell<br>
Way in Herndon for possible infestation by emerald ash borer (EAB). Upon<br>
inspection of the trees, Forest Pest staff suspected EAB and promptly<br>
notified the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services<br>
(VDACS).<br>
<br>
On Tuesday, July 8 representatives from the Forest Pest, VDACS, and the<br>
United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection<br>
Service (USDA-APHIS) met at the site to investigate the trees and collect<br>
samples.<br>
<br>
On Wednesday, July 9, we received a positive EAB identification from<br>
USDA-APHIS.<br>
<br>
Now that USDA-APHIS has confirmed the infestation the national "emerald
ash<br>
borer science advisory panel" (part of USDA) will recommend a course
of<br>
action. Due to the fact that Fairfax County is already surrounded by EAB<br>
infested states (MD, WV, and PA) staff does not anticipate an EAB<br>
eradication project will be recommended (like that implemented in the Wolf<br>
Trap area in 2003); but, instead Fairfax County will be placed in a Federal<br>
EAB quarantine area. However, we will learn more concerning the USDA-APHIS<br>
course of action early next week.<br>
<br>
In coordination with USDA-APHIS/ VDACS, Forest Pest staff will be setting<br>
out additional EAB traps in the Herndon vicinity to detect the extent of<br>
the EAB infestation over the next few days. Staff will update the Board<br>
about the extent of the EAB infestation and on pending USDA-APHIS/ VDACS<br>
actions.<br>
<br>
FYI - ash trees are estimated to comprise 4 - 5% of Fairfax County's total<br>
tree population. This equates to approximately 1.5 to 2 million trees.<br>
Although, individual landscape trees can be treated for EAB, there are
no<br>
treatments available to manage this insect on a wide-scale basis;<br>
therefore, short of a new research/treatment break-through, it is<br>
reasonable to expect significant levels of ash tree loss from EAB over
the<br>
next decade or so.<br>
<br>
Unfortunately we also have an all-but-confirmed infestation in the<br>
Newington Area (our staff has visually confirmed adult EAB beetles but
they<br>
have not been sent to the Feds for an official ID confirmation). The<br>
Emerald Ash Borer adult beetles are emerging at this time and will continue<br>
to do so for another 2 to 3 weeks, therefore we may get more cases from<br>
other areas of the County.<br>
<br>
Here are some links to sites containing EAB information:<br>
<br>
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/environmental/eab_general.htm<br>
<br>
http://www.emeraldashborer.info/<br>
<br>
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/emerald_ash_b/index.shtml<br>
<br>
<br>
Michael P Knapp<br>
Director, Urban Forest Management Division<br>
Land Development Services<br>
Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services<br>
703.324.1770<br>
703.803.7769 fax<br>
<br>
<br>
Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in our community by ensuring<br>
the vitality of the urban forest and its management, and to preserve the<br>
natural environment. We promote compatibility between the developed
and<br>
natural communities through science, education, shared knowledge and strong<br>
partnerships.<br>
<br>
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<br>
WHAT YOU CAN DO... <br>
<br>
County officials want your help in determining the extent of the infestation..."To
help officials, homeowners are asked to report any signs of declining or
dying ash trees. Call the Fairfax County Forest Pest Program at 703-324-5304,
TTY 711. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/environmental/eab_general.htm
for more information on identifying ash trees or the beetle." <br>
<br>
See this attachment for more information! <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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