Emerald Ash Borer Impact in Minnesota
What is the overall impact?
Emerald ash borer is causing a devastating ecological event throughout the Twin Cities. More than one in five metro area trees is an ash tree. Losing this many trees is comparable to a natural disaster, having both a large environmental and economic impact. Look outside, and imagine 20% of the visible mature trees being gone!
- All seven Twin Cities metro counties are under EAB quarantine.
- Statewide, Minnesota has an estimated 937 million ash trees.
- In Minnesota cities, 1 in every 5 trees is an ash tree.
Watch the Spread of EAB
This time-lapse map shows the spread of Emerald Ash Borer in the Twin Cities metro area from 2009 to 2021. The borders indicate the infestation radius around finds.
- Yellow indicates a newer infested area
- Orange indicates infestation has progressed
- Red indicates that all ash trees within the area are at high risk of infestation.
Emerald Ash Borer Local News:
- 3/22/22 – Worst year yet for Emerald Ash Borer in many Twin Cities suburbs
- 2/24/22 – Emerald ash borer found in Le Sueur County
- 12/16/21 – Column: Emerald Ash Borer is right outside your door
- 5/5/21 – Ten Things Every Minnesotan Should Know About Emerald Ash Borer
- 3/15/21 – Emerald ash borer found in Savage; ‘tough choices’ ahead for city officials, residents
- 3/14/21 – February cold snap likely helped Minnesota’s fight against emerald ash borer (MPRNews)
- 3/10/21 – U Of M Scientists Discover Fungi That ‘Attack’ Emerald Ash Borer(CBS Minnesota)
- 1/25/21 – Emerald ash borer discovered in Shakopee (SW News Media)
- 1/13/21 – Emerald ash borer found in Chanhassen(SW News Media)
Should you keep your tree?
The environmental and economic value of trees is well documented. Mature ash trees provide a significant amount of valuable tree canopy in our community. For example, an average urban tree will:
Reducing flooding during storms and keeping pollution from our rivers and lakes.
Reduce CO2 in the atmosphere by over 600 pounds every year.
Produce the cooling effect of ten room-size air conditioners operating twenty hours a day.
Protecting your ash tree for 20 years is less than the cost of removal and replacement. Plus, you retain the value of a mature tree in your landscape. Read more about how to id an ash tree and managing ash trees. Regardless of whether you treat or remove, being proactive and making a plan is important!
