Emerald Ash Borer confirmed in the City of Dallas limits

The City of Dallas has been notified by Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) of the confirmed presence of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) inside the city limits and western Dallas County. The EAB is a non-native, wood-boring insect destructive to ash trees.

As part of the EAB Action Plan, City staff will: assess ash trees on public property; treat significant ash (24-inch or larger in diameter and in good condition, large groves of ash, etc.); and remove infected or damaged trees that pose safety issues.  According to TFS, “urban tree canopy inventories estimate that ash trees comprise approximately 5% of the Dallas/Fort Worth urban forest.”

Dallas County will join Parker and Tarrant Counties in a quarantine status. This quarantine is mandated by the State through the Texas Department of Agriculture.  A quarantine for these circumstances will, “prohibit moving ash wood, wood waste and hardwood firewood products from within Dallas County to other non-quarantined counties.”

The public may visit the City of Dallas Forestry website  to learn more about the Emerald Ash Borer and find resources for their property.