TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Keith Stahley, City Manager
FROM: Scott Archer, Deputy City Manager, and
Brian D. Martin, PE, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
title
Request approval to apply for a grant through the Oregon Department of Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Subaward Program to assist in dealing with the effects of Emerald Ash Borer in the City.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Natural Environment Stewardship.
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SUMMARY:
summary
Since the first observation of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Oregon in 2022, City officials have been working with the Oregon Department of Forestry on a plan for responding to the arrival of this aggressive tree pest to slow its spread and reduce impacts to Salem's tree canopy, especially in disadvantaged communities. With the detection of EAB in Marion County in July 2024, it is imperative that the City take action to protect important ash trees through treatment, begin underplanting of other species in areas with ash, and conduct public outreach and awareness. The City has the opportunity to apply for up to $750,000 over a period of three to four years to conduct work related to EAB and ash trees. The grant does not require matching funds; however, staff time will be needed to administer the grant.
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council authorize the City Manager to submit an application for grant funding through the Oregon Department of Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Subaward Program to support Emerald Ash Borer readiness and response?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to submit an application for grant funding through the Oregon Department of Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Subaward Program to support Emerald Ash Borer readiness and response.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was first observed in Oregon on June 30, 2022. The EAB was detected in Marion County in July 2024 and a quarantine was enacted by the Oregon Department of Agriculture in August 2024 (Attachment 1).
The Oregon Department of Forestry warns that the arrival of EAB will likely devastate ash woodlands and riparian zones where native Oregon Ash is a dominant species. EAB also impacts ornamental ash species from other parts of the country and world that are commonly used in landscaping in Salem, including white ash, flowering ash, Raywood ash, green ash, European ash, black ash, and velvet ash. Ash tree mortality from EAB could lead to a reduction in urban tree canopy, an increase in invasive plants taking hold within our community, and loss of shade and habitat along streams and in natural areas.
The Oregon Department of Forestry has grant funding available through the Urban and Community Forestry Subaward Program of the Inflation Reduction Act. Applications for this funding are due October 15, 2024. The grant funding period is January 1, 2025, to September 1, 2028. This grant opportunity does not require matching funds and may fund projects up to $750,000. Grant requirements include quarterly progress reports and a closeout report. If any funds are unspent at the end of the grant period they would be returned to the grantor.
The grant requires funding be directed to disadvantaged communities. As Salem is considered to have over 80 percent disadvantaged communities, funds can be used for city-wide measures such as EAB planning and public awareness.
Details of the grant application scope and budget are still being developed by staff from Public Works and Community Services. Staff proposes to request funding to treat existing ash trees, plant other species in areas with ash, finalize the City’s readiness and response plan, and facilitate public outreach and education.
Funding could be used to do pesticide injections of ash trees that are city-owned along streets. This would include treating ash trees above 12 inches in diameter that are in fair to good health. There are approximately 715 ash trees that currently meet this classification located in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Tree injections need to occur every two years. This application could support funding to complete two rounds of treatment.
Funding could also be used to plant native tree species underneath some areas that are currently ash, allowing them to grow and establish as much as possible before the ash die. Plantings would be focused in areas with disadvantaged populations and would occur along streets where ash trees in poor condition need to be replaced, as well as along waterways to provide habitat and to shade streams when the ash die. These plantings would reduce impacts to fish and wildlife habitat from tree loss and help reduce stream temperatures to meet water quality requirements.
Staff is proposing to use some of this funding to hire a contractor or limited-duration employee to facilitate an EAB advisory committee, conduct public awareness and outreach, and finalize the City’s EAB Readiness and Response Plan. This hire could also seek out and assist in applying for additional funding to continue EAB-related work and work to develop partnerships.
BACKGROUND:
EAB is an exotic beetle that is native to Asia. It was first discovered in the U.S. in 2002 near Detroit, Michigan and has since been detected in more than 30 states where it has killed millions of ash trees. EAB probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia. Since arriving in the U.S., the invasive beetles have largely been spread through the movement of infested firewood. EAB was first observed in Oregon in June of 2022 in Forest Grove and was found in Marion County in July of 2024.
The adult beetles are a bright, metallic “emerald” green color. The adults feed on the foliage of ash trees but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) bore into the ash tree bark and feed, disrupting the ability of trees to transport water and nutrients, leading to canopy thinning and dieback, and tree mortality of ninety-nine percent of untreated ash trees that are infested.
Robert D. Chandler, PhD, PE
Assistant Public Works Director
Attachments:
1. Oregon Department of Agriculture Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine Alert, August 2024