Residents across Portage la Prairie may notice inspectors surveying neighbourhoods this month, as the Province of Manitoba begins its annual monitoring for Dutch elm disease and emerald ash borer.
Province leads the inspection program
According to Paul Ziesmann, Superintendent of Public Works for the City of Portage la Prairie, the monitoring work is being led by the province.
“It actually just kicked off last week,” says Ziesmann. “It is not so much the City of Portage, but the province of Manitoba has forest health inspectors in town.”
Inspectors are checking for signs of disease in trees on both public and private property. They may be driving or walking through neighbourhoods at various times of the day, wearing high-visibility vests and carrying provincial ID.
“They then mark those trees down for us and we work in partnership with the province to remove those trees,” adds Ziesmann.
Tree removals take place in the fall
This stage of the program is focused on identifying problem trees. Removal typically happens later in the year, once all the data is collected.
“This is really just the beginning aspect of the Dutch Elm disease program,” continues Ziesmann. “Manitoba sends out their forest health inspectors to inspect and survey Dutch Elm trees across Portage la Prairie and then also across Manitoba.”
The City receives provincial grants to help fund the removal work, which usually happens in the fall.
Reminder to avoid moving firewood
Ziesmann is also reminding residents not to transport firewood, as it may carry pests or diseases.
“We just really encourage people not to move firewood because there is the possibility of spreading and moving forest insects or invasive species,” he remarks. “So really keep in mind not to move firewood.”
The province has also issued a reminder that elm trees cannot be pruned between April 1 and July 31, as beetles that carry Dutch elm disease are attracted to fresh pruning cuts.
Emerald ash borer monitoring is also taking place, with traps being placed in targeted areas throughout southern Manitoba.
For more information, residents can contact the provincial Tree Line at 204-945-7866 or email treeline@gov.mb.ca.
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