A small but destructive force of nature that has made its way from clear across another continent, the emerald ash borer, has prompted concern and a multi-national effort at control in 18 U.S. states and parts of Canada. West Chicago is among the many communities that has identified the threat to its ash tree stock and taken action.

Since 2010, the city of West Chicago has been proactive in the rescue efforts of “savable” ash trees by hiring Graf Tree Care to inspect, evaluate and tag the 2,446 ash trees that existed in the city’s parkway or on city-owned properties. As a result of Graf’s inspection, 593 ash trees were identified as being too badly infected to be saved and 1,853 ash trees that had a chance of survival through an insecticidal treatment program.

Following a cost analysis of total removal of the 2,446 ash trees projected at $1,555,100, compared to projected treatment costs for the 1,853 savable trees of about $600,000, Emerald Tree Care was hired by the city in 2011 to perform a seven-year insecticidal treatment. The treatments consist of soil saturation with fertilizer and an additional trunk injection on trees larger than 6 inches in diameter.