Emerald Ash Borer Fund Update

The East Kingston Conservation Commission (EKCC) would like to update you on our activities as overseer of the town's $5,000 Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) fund established in March by town warrant.

1) In April, EKCC engaged Rockingham County Forester Greg Jordan and Community Forestry Specialist Cory Keeffe (of the Division of Forests and Lands) to conduct an inventory and assessment of ash trees on town-owned properties in East Kingston. Both Greg and Cory are certified arborists as well.

2) On May 29th, Greg, Cory and Dennis Quintal, EKCC chair, conducted a quick, visual assessment of roadside trees, as well as ash trees on East Kingston's town properties (town office, library, police department, public works, elementary school, Foss Wasson Field, Trickling Falls Dam, and all three cemeteries).

3) On June 13th, EKCC received an ash inventory report (PDF attached).

4) We determined the town has one high-value ash tree in Union Cemetery on South Street. This tree might be a good candidate to receive long-term systemic insecticide treatments to prevent EAB infection.

Next Steps
1) Discuss recommendations and next steps with the Cemetery Committee
2) Reassess the tree's health in the spring (before any treatment)
3) Provided the tree is healthy (no serious crown die-back or blonding), get bids from vendors to apply the insecticide in the spring of 2020

If you have any questions, please contact us at EKconservation@gmail.com.