MCLEOD COUNTY TREE INVENTORY PROJECTShelby lynn GamacheMN GreenCorps Member Serving McLeod County

Urban & Community Forests• Includes all natural resources in an urban area• “Green infrastructure” • Positive social, economic, and environmental impacts on

communities• Save energy• Reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide• Reduce stormwater runoff• Improve air quality• Improve water quality• Improve property values• Beautify community

What is a Tree Inventory?• Collect valuable information on

urban tree populations• Number of trees• Diversity of species• General ages• Health

• Can be used for management plans and future funding

Benefits of Inventories• Accurate profile of the forest• Accurate budget• Effective management plans• Helps identify forest susceptibility

• Invasive pests• Catastrophic events • Maintenance work needed• Monetary value• Quantify benefits provided

Goals of McLeod County Tree Inventory Project

• Increase tree diversity and health• Prepare city for invasive pests• Create tree resources and increase tree interest among

residents• Increase awareness of tree maintenance and health• Allow city to plan a budget for tree removal and planting• Increase public safety by removing hazardous trees

Emerald Ash Borer• Threat to all ash species in Minnesota• 998 million ash trees in Minnesota• Quarantine on Ramsey, Hennepin,

Houston, Winona, and Olmsted counties

Emerald Ash Borer Biology

Emerald Ash Borer Symptoms and Damage

• Difficult to notice for first two years

• Tree dies within 3-4 years• Increased woodpecker

presence• Thinning foliage and dieback• D-shaped exit holes• Epicormic sprouts

Planting/Removing Ash

• Do not plant ash• Do not remove ash

• Unhealthy• EAB confirmed within

15 miles

• Insecticide treatments are expensive

Inventory & Community Tree Factsheet

• City will have access to:

Species

Estimated age

Location

Canopy cover

Health assessment• Factsheet created from

results of inventory

Volunteers• Volunteers needed to help complete inventory• Trained volunteers just as accurate as

professionals• Great way to assist your community

Volunteer Commitment

• Participate in training program• Tree identification• Inventory techniques• Health assessment ratings

• Establish a team of 2-3 people• Schedule dates to inventory block

segments• Return information to data collector• Equipment to complete inventory will be

provided

Contact Information• Shelby lynn Gamache• Email: gama0020@umn.edu• Phone: (320) 484-4339

• Helpful websites:

http://www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu/

http://www.mntreesource.com/

http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/emerald-ash-borer/

http://www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu/2009/02/emerald-ash-borer-first-detectors/

Photo Sources• Luana Vargis. http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5431630• http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/emerald-ash-borer/about/• http://www.mntreesource.com/mankato.html• http://www.mntreesource.com/• http://www.arborday.org/trees/tips/annual-pruning.cfm• http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/trees-shrubs/common-buckthorn-identification/• http://www.appstate.edu/~madritchmd/ASUtree.html• http://www.northwestdistrictassociation.org/?cat=99• http://buckshort.blogspot.com/2013/04/emerald-ash-borer-update.html• Daniel Harms. http://www.invasive.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1523071• David McKay. http://www.invasive.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1439002• Leah Bauer. http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5449384• Steven Katovich. http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1457030• Joseph O’Brien. http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5038066