Houston Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Action Plan

PLEASE DO NOT ADD OBSERVATIONS UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH TRAINING WITH ADMINS

Contact kelli.ondracek@houstontx.gov for more information about training opportunities.

This project is intended for use of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department to gauge the distribution of Ash (Fraxinus) throughout the City of Houston. Data from this project will be used to help create a plan for the city to respond to threats as the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) moves closer to the Houston area.

EAB can be devastating to Ash trees, especially in an urban environment. These wood boring beetles, which are native to Asia, have wiped out untreated Ash trees in northern areas of the country where they have been documented since 2002.

All observations will be taken from within city parks and potentially will expand to other areas throughout the city at a later time.

To make sure there is no double counting, please contact project administrators to sign up for individual parks or sections of the city for your surveys.

Please be safe when making observations in parks.

• Follow all park rules that can be found at http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/parkrules.html
• Observations will be made of any ash tree species (Fraxinus sp.) that are found within City of Houston parks.

Fraxinus species known to be found in Harris County are:
Fraxinus pennsylvanica (Green ash)
Fraxinus berlandieriana (Mexican ash)
Fraxinus americana (White ash)
Fraxinus veultina (Arizona ash, typically a right of way/street tree)
http://bonap.net/NAPA/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Fraxinus

EACH OBSERVATION MUST INCLUDE:
Photo of leaves and bark
Photo of fruit if available
Diameter at Breast Height - measurement in inches of the trunk less ↑