The impact of emerald ash borer

GREEN BAY - The emerald ash borer was recently found in Green Bay by state agriculture inspectors during a routine trap check along the Fox River. The insect kills ash trees by feeding on its wood.

Only one adult emerald ash borer was found in the trap, but its discovery could mean others are already here. Many said they are concerned about what it will mean for popular, outdoor recreational activities.

On a sunny, summer afternoon, many people enjoy playing a round at one of the dozens of area golf courses. But, in coming years, some of the courses may start looking quite a bit different.

"Our approach to the clubhouse, we're going to lose everything in the front. Yeah, it's going to change our look," said Mike VanLanen, the facilities manager at UW-Green Bay. The school owns and operates Shorewood Golf Course, an on-campus 9-hole golf course.

Shorewood, like most courses in the county, is made up of many different trees, but crews are most concerned about the future of the lush ash trees.

"I probably have 50 to 100 of them on the course and they will make an impact when they come down," said Mike Rusch, Shorewood's Course Superintendent.

While the potential loss of tall ash trees around the course will be noticeable, school officials said they are more concerned about the impact it could have around campus and in the arboretum.

"In our arboretum, where our walking trails are, we have concentrations of ash as high as 80%," said VanLanen.

Area parks will also be affected. Officials with the Brown County Parks system said the Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico has the most to lose.

"I would say Barkhausen has the highest percentage of ash in its canopy but, certainly all of our parks do," said Doug Hartman, Brown County's Assistant Park Director.

Barkhausen has popular walking and cross-country skiing trails. Hartman said, however, it's too early to know what impact the spread of emerald ash borer would have on the 1000-acre property.

"I guess it depends how the rate of spread goes through with the emerald ash borer -- how many die out at one time," said Hartman.

For now, all they can do is plan for the fallout, because most believe the emerald ash borer will soon be widespread in Wisconsin. Some said it will be a very costly process to remove the dead ash trees.

"We're trying to diversify. We've been planning for it but this caught everybody in this area a lot quicker then we assumed it was going to be here," said VanLanen.