Public can also weigh in on adoption of formal quarantine of Wright County
Residents of Wright County are invited to an open house on Wednesday, Oct. 10, regarding the discovery of emerald ash borer (EAB) in the county.
On Sept. 13, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) confirmed an EAB find along the I-94 corridor in the city of Clearwater.
Those attending the upcoming open house will have an opportunity to learn more about EAB and local options to deal with the insect, and hear how residents can limit the spread of the bug. Experts from the MDA and other state and federal partner agencies will be available to answer questions.
Emerald Ash Borer open house
Wednesday, Oct. 10
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Lions Building at Lions Park
1100 County Road 75 NW
Clearwater, MN 55320
The public will also have an opportunity to provide input on the adoption of a formal EAB quarantine of Wright County. An emergency quarantine was placed on the area when EAB was discovered. The MDA will take comments on the formal quarantine through Oct. 29, and proposes to adopt the quarantine on Nov. 1. The quarantine limits the movement of ash trees and limbs, and hardwood firewood out of the county. The proposed quarantine language can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab. Comments can be made at the open house or by contacting:
Kimberly Thielen Cremers
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul MN 55155
Fax: (651) 201-6108
kimberly.tcremers@state.mn.us
Emerald ash borer larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk. Minnesota is highly susceptible to the destruction caused by this invasive insect. The state has approximately one billion ash trees, the most of any state in the nation. For more information on emerald ash borer, go to www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.