Emerald Ash Borer Sighted in Lemont

The presence of the emerald ash borer—a tree-killing beetle that has plagued Northern Illinois for the past several years—was confirmed in Lemont in November, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

The Village of Lemont was recently notified that the bug has infested more than 20 ash trees on private property in the 500 block of 6th Street, according to Lemont Public Works Director Ralph Pukula.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture confirmed the infestation Nov. 2 during a statewide trap survey.

According to the Department of Agriculture, the emerald ash borer is a small, metallic green pest whose larvae feeds under the bark of ash trees, cutting off nutrient flow essential for a healthy tree. It has been found in several states from the east coast to the midwest, and in June 2006 it was discovered in a residential neighborhood in Kane County.

Lemont joins a list of more than 80 locations in Cook County and hundreds across the state that have had confirmed sightings since 2006. As a result of widespread infestation, all or parts of 23 northeast Illinois counties are currently quarantined, state officials said.

"We've been anticipating this for several years," Pukula told village officials during a committee of the whole meeting Monday night. "It's going to cost us some money over the next few years."

According to Pukula, the village currently has about 2,400 ash trees on village property, and most likely more on private property. Taking into account the quarry area, Lemont could have as many as 10,000 ash trees, he said.

Although the infested trees are located on private property and have been quarantined, they are still a major concern for the village and its ash tree population, particularly because of how expensive they can be to treat or remove.

Pukula said he consulted with Chuck Stewart, the village arborist, regarding the village's options addressing any further issues with the ash borer.

To treat trees chemically, Pukula estimated an annual cost between $100 and $200 per tree. Removing infested trees would likely cost between $300 and $500, he said.

Stewart said he knows of no municipality that has treated trees chemically, since it's likely not cost effective.

At this time, the village is not proposing the pre-emptive removal of ash trees, Pukula said. He and Stewart are recommending a "wait and see" approach, meaning the village would leave the ash trees until ash borers have been confirmed and the health of the tree has declined to 50 percent—when the tree is typically deemed as hazardous.

Should the village decide to move forward with removal or treatment in the future, funding could be secured through grants, Pukula said.

Lemont Economic Development Director Jim Brown said the village has not allowed ash trees to be planted in recent years due to the borer crisis.

Residents are encouraged to be vigilant of signs of infestation, including dead branches, thinning crowns, small D-shaped holes in the bark, shoots growing from the trunk of the tree, excessive woodpecker activity and S-shaped galleries underneath the bark.

If residents suspect the presence of emerald ash borers on their property, they should contact the Lemont Public Works Department at 630-257-2532.