Inventory of Ash Trees in Mahomet, Illinois

Inventory of Ash Trees in Mahomet, Illinois

East Central Illinois Master Naturalist Inventory of Ash Trees in Mahomet, Illinois The Advisory Board of the East Central Illinois Master Naturalists (ECIMN) program has initiated an inventory of ash trees to determine the potential for damage due to an infestation by the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis, or EAB for short) in this region. The purposes of this inventory are to estimate the magnitude of the potential problem in east central Illinois and to alert public officials in communities within the region. This report identifies the locations and health of ash trees in Mahomet. ECIMN volunteers have field experience in the subject of this report, but they are not trained professionals. Before taking any action, expert advice should be solicited. The EAB was identified in Michigan almost ten years ago and has spread to adjoining states. This pest was detected in the nearby town of Rantoul in the fall of 2010 but has not yet been detected in Mahomet. Ash trees of the Fraxinus genus (all common ash trees, but not mountain ash) that have EAB start showing decline in one to three years and ultimately are completely killed. Treatment options are discussed on state (agr.state.il.us/eab) and federal (emeraldashborer.info/) websites. Either treatment or removal and disposal of ash trees will be a costly budget item that could be planned for rather than dealt with on an emergency basis. Dead ash trees are a public and personal safety issue, and early planning and replacement by other trees will ameliorate the visual devastation caused by the loss of ash trees. The inventory in Mahomet was done on August 1, 2, 3, 8 and 10, 2011. It was conducted by driving along the streets and identifying ash trees. The street name and condition of ash trees that could be identified from public roads were tabulated. Their latitude and longitude were recorded using a handheld GPS device and subsequently uploaded onto a satellite map of the area. Whether the tree appeared to be on public or private land was recorded. It is estimated that more than 90% of the public roads/streets were included in this inventory, though some of the streets may have been in unincorporated areas. There was no attempt to record ash tree locations, if any, in wooded areas, and sometimes trees in backyards could not be seen well enough to be sure of their species or conditions. The attached maps show the locations of ash trees identified in Mahomet. The numbers on the maps correspond to entries in the accompanying table. Except for a few cases, the assessment of the condition of the trees was made from a distance and was qualitative, because a more exact designation would require careful inspection of each tree. Each tree was designated as healthy (H), waning (W), sick (S), or dead (D). Waning is used to designate a tree that was mostly alive with a few dead branches; sick designates a tree that was mostly dead with a few live branches. It was not always clear whether listed trees were on public or private property.

The summary at the end of the table shows that of the 324 ash trees identified in this inventory, only 77 were identified as being on public land. Only 15% of the ash trees on private land (36 trees) showed symptoms of decline or death, whereas the trees on public land had a considerably higher percentage in decline (53%). It is not clear why this is, but may be due to the fact that many of the privately owned trees were younger, so that there was less time for insect and other damage to accumulate. There were not large numbers of ash trees in the older parts of Mahomet, where oak, maple, hickory and walnut trees predominated. At the time of the survey, the EAB had not yet been identified in Mahomet, so the reason for the decline of some of the ash trees in the village is not known. The website, <http://web.extension.illinois.edu/champaign/homeowners/0 30830.html>, has information on ash tree diseases. In regions where the EAB has been identified, it has been observed that damage occurs first in trees that are already in decline due to drought, disease, or injury. Since EAB management may become a significant expense for Mahomet, ash trees should be monitored regularly to identify damage due to borers. The sick ash trees at locations #159 and #160 on East Main Street had numerous borer emergence holes and should be examined more closely to determine whether the borers are native or EAB. A good illustration of how to distinguish native ash borers from the EAB can be found at <ashalert.osu.edu/userfiles/native_borers.pdf>. Taking these steps can help both officials and homeowners deal with EAB more effectively when it is detected in their village. This report is based on observations by Carl Altstetter and Marilee Hoffswell. Submitted on August 14, 2011. Approved by ECIMN Publication Review Committee on Cleo D Arcy, chair

Overview of Mahomet and Surroundings numbers refer to entries in the table, blue lines are streets surveyed

Detail View of Northwest Mahomet

Ash Inventory Date: August 1, 2, 8, 10 observers Altstetter, Hoffswell (8/8, 10) location: Mahomet (condition: H=healthy, W=waning, S=sick, D=dead) # road/street condition(insert#) public private remarks H W S D (X) (X) 8/1/2011 132 Franklin 2 x 133 2 x 134 1 x 135 State 1 1 x 136 Jefferson 1 x 137 Main 1 x 138 Center 1 x 139 Marietta 1 x 140 " 2 x 141 "/Fawn 3 x 142 Fawn 1 x 143 " 1 x 144 " 2 x 145 " 2 x 146 " 1 x 147 Garden 2 x 148 Garden 1 x 149 S. Center 1 x 150 " 2 x 151 " 3 x x 152 Division/Fawn 1 x 153 Division/Walnut 1 x

154 Walnut 1 x 155 " 1 x 156 Union 1 x 157 Main 1 x 158 " 1 x 8/2/2011 159 Main 1 2 x numerous round and oval holes 160 " 1 x in recently felled large tree " " larvae, hole and tunnel photos 161 next to Walgreen parking 1 x completely dead -- ash?? 162 Main 1 x same property as above 163 " 1 x 164 " 1 x 165 East 1 1 x " 1 x 166 " 1 x same lot as #161 167 " 2 x very small 168 " 1 x 169 Franklin 6 x Wood River Terrace 170 Dunbar 2 x park 171 " 1 x 172 " 1 x " 2 x 173 Turner 1 x 174 " 1 x park 175 " 1 x park 176 " 1 2 x 177 " 2 x parking lot 178 " 1 1 x 179 " 1 x 180 North/McKinley 1 x

181 McKinley 2 x 182 " 1 1? x 183 Main 1 x 184 alley 2 x 185 Dunbar 1 x 186 " 1 x 187 " 1 x 188 W. Main 3 1 x 189 W. Main/Jennifer 1 x no borer holes 190 Marcella 1 x 191 Frances 2 1 z 192 Western Hills 2 1 x 193 Colony Grove 1 x small 194 Craig 2 x x 195 Diane Lane 1 x 196 Raymond Dr. 1 x 197 " 1 x 198 Craig 1 x 199 Northridge Court 2 x 200 " Dr. 1 x 201 " 2 x 202 " 1 x 203 Tamula 1 x 204 " 3 x high school 205 " 3 x " 206 " 9 x HS parking lot 207 W. State 1 x HS parking lot 208 " 1 x 8/8/2011 (with Hoffswell) 209 Elm 1 x 210 Jackson 1 x 211 Dorchester 3 x

212 " 1 x 213 " 1 x 214 " 2 x 215 State 2 x 216 Weathering 1 x 217 " 2 x 218 " 4 x 219 Andover 1 x 220 State 1 x 221 Jennifer Court 2 x 222 Jennifer 1 x 223 Raymond Dr. 2 x 224 Diane Lane 1 x 225 Barbara 1 x 226 " 1 x 227 Oda 1 x 228 Clayton 1 x 229 Carl 1 x 230 " 1 x 231 Sharon 3 x 232 Main 1 x 233 Southwood/Turkey Farm 1 x 234 " 2 x 235 " 1 x 236 Hillside 1 x 237 "/Timberview 1 x 238 " 1 x 239 " 2 x 240 Edgewood 3 x 241 " 2 x 242 " 1 x 243 " 1 x " 244 " 2 x " 245 " 2 x 246 Highland 3 x blue ash?

247 " 4 x 248 Timber Ridge 1 x 249 " 3 x 250 " 251 Westbrook 2 x 252 Northwood 1 x 253 " 1 x 254 " 1 x 255 "/Turkey Farm 1 x 256 Maywood Drive 1 x 257 Sunset 1 x 258 " 1 x 259 Mitchell Drive 3 x 260 " 1 x 261 South Mahomet Road 5 x 262 " 2 x 263 Deer Run Dr. 1 x 264 " 1 x epicormic growth 265 S. Mahomet Rd 1 x 266 " 6 x 267 " 1 x 268 Sunny Acres Road 1 x 8/10/2011 (with Hoffswell) 269 Timber 2 x 270 " 1 x 271 Sunrise Circle 5 x 272 Maple Tree Lane 1 x 273 " 1 x 274 (mistaken entry) 275 Oak Creek /Cross Creek 3 1 x 276 Cross Creek 2 x 277 " 1 x 278 " 1 x 279 Caro Court 3 x 280 Alydar 1 x

281 " 1 x 282 "/Cross Creek 2 x 283 Cross Creek 2 x 284 Oak Creek 1 x 285 " 4 x 286 " 2 x 287 Walnut Creek Circle 1 x 288 Amy Drive 1 x 289 Heather 1 x 290 Heather 4 x 291 Gladney Ct. 1 x 292 Heather 8 x 293 " 3 x 294 Jeffrey 3 x 295 " 3 x x 296 Kimela 3 x 297 " 1 x 298 Jeffrey 2 x 299 Kimela 1 x 300 " 1 x 301 Amy Drive 4 x 302 " 3 x 303 Jody 3 x 304 Rt.150 4 x 305 Sportsman's Club 1 x 306 Lake of Woods park 3 x 307 " 2 x 308 " 4 x 309 " 4 x Summary total number of ash trees: 324 (247 private, 77 public)

Ash Inventory location: Mahomet Date: August 1, 2, 3, 8, 10 observers Altstetter, Hoffswell (8/8, 10) (condition: H=healthy, W=waning, S=sick, D=dead) # road/street condition(insert#) public private remarks H W S D (X) (X) 8/1/2011 132 Franklin 2 x 133 2 x 134 1 x 135 State 1 1 x 136 Jefferson 1 x 137 Main 1 x 138 Center 1 x 139 Marietta 1 x 140 " 2 x 141 "/Fawn 3 x 142 Fawn 1 x 143 " 1 x 144 " 2 x 145 " 2 x 146 " 1 x 147 Garden 2 x 148 Garden 1 x 149 S. Center 1 x 150 " 2 x 151 " 2 x " " 1 x 152 Division/Fawn 1 x 153 Division/Walnut 1 x 154 Walnut 1 x 155 " 1 x 156 Union 1 x 157 Main 1 x 158 " 1 x

# road/street condition(insert#) public private remarks H W S D (X) (X) 8/2/2011 159 Main 1 2 x numerous round and oval holes in largest tree 160 " 1 x in recently felled large tree " " larvae, hole and tunnel photos 161 next to Walgreen parking 1 x completely dead -- ash?? 162 Main 1 x same prop. As above 163 " 1 x 164 " 1 x 165 East 1 1 x " 1 x 166 " 1 x same lot as #161 167 " 2 x very small 168 " 1 x 169 Franklin 6 x Wood River Terrace 170 Dunbar 2 x park 171 " 1 x 172 " 1 x " 2 x 173 Turner 1 x 174 " 1 x park 175 " 1 x park 176 " 1 2 x 177 " 2 x parking lot 178 " 1 1 x 179 " 1 x 180 North/McKinley 1 x 181 McKinley 2 x 182 " 1 1? x 183 Main 1 x 184 alley 2 x 8/3/2011 185 Dunbar 1 x 186 " 1 x

# road/street condition(insert#) public private remarks H W S D (X) (X) 187 " 1 x 188 W. Main 3 1 x 189 W. Main/Jennifer 1 x no borer holes 190 Marcella 1 x 191 Frances 2 1 x 192 Western Hills 2 1 x 193 Colony Grove 1 x small 194 Craig 2 x x 195 Diane Lane 1 x 196 Raymond Dr. 1 x 197 " 1 x 198 Craig 1 x 199 Northridge Court 2 x 200 " Dr. 1 x 201 " 2 x 202 " 1 x 203 Tamula 1 x 204 " 3 x high school 205 " 3 x " 206 " 9 x HS parking lot 207 W. State 1 x HS parking lot 208 " 1 x 8/8/2011 (with Hoffswell) 209 Elm 1 x 210 Jackson 1 x 211 Dorchester 3 x 212 " 1 x 213 " 1 x 214 " 2 x 215 State 2 x 216 Weathering 1 x 217 " 2 x 218 " 4 x 219 Andover 1 x

# road/street condition(insert#) public private remarks H W S D (X) (X) 220 State 1 x 221 Jennifer Court 2 x 222 Jennifer 1 x 223 Raymond Dr. 2 x 224 Diane Lane 1 x 225 Barbara 1 x 226 " 1 x 227 Oda 1 x 228 Clayton 1 x 229 Carl 1 x 230 " 1 x 231 Sharon 3 x 232 Main 1 x 233 Southwood/Turkey Farm 1 x 234 " 2 x 235 " 1 x 236 Hillside 1 x 237 "/Timberview 1 x 238 " 1 x 239 " 2 x 240 Edgewood 3 x 241 " 2 x 242 " 1 x blue ash? 243 " 1 x " 244 " 2 x " 245 " 2 x 246 Highland 3 x 247 " 4 x 248 Timber Ridge 1 x 249 " 3 x 250 " 251 Westbrook 2 x 252 Northwood 1 x 253 " 1 x 254 " 1 x

# road/street condition(insert#) public private remarks H W S D (X) (X) 255 "/Turkey Farm 1 x 256 Maywood Drive 1 x 257 Sunset 1 x 258 " 1 x 259 Mitchell Drive 3 x 260 " 1 x 261 South Mahomet Road 5 x 262 " 2 x 263 Deer Run Dr. 1 x 264 " 1 x exocormic growth 265 S. Mahomet Rd 1 x 266 " 6 x 267 " 1 x 268 Sunny Acres Road 1 x 8/10/2011 (with Hoffswell) 269 Timber 2 x 270 " 1 x 271 Sunrise Circle 5 x 272 Maple Tree Lane 1 x 273 " 1 x 274 (mistaken entry) 275 Oak Creek /Cross Creek 3 1 x 276 Cross Creek 2 x 277 " 1 x 278 " 1 x 279 Caro Court 3 x 280 Alydar 1 x 281 " 1 x 282 "/Cross Creek 2 x 283 Cross Creek 2 x 284 Oak Creek 1 x 285 " 4 x 286 " 2 x 287 Walnut Creek Circle 1 x 288 Amy Drive 1 x

# road/street condition(insert#) public private remarks H W S D (X) (X) 289 Heather 1 x 290 Heather 4 x 291 Gladney Ct. 1 x 292 Heather 8 x 293 " 3 x 294 Jeffrey 3 x 295 " 1 x " " 2 x 296 Kimela 3 x 297 " 1 x 298 Jeffrey 2 x 299 Kimela 1 x 300 " 1 x 301 Amy Drive 4 x 302 " 3 x 303 Jody 3 x 304 Rt.150 4 x 305 Sportsman's Club 1 x Summary # on private land 235 199 healthy (= 85%) # on public land 76 36 healthy (= 47%) total number of ash trees 311 226 healthy (= 73%)