WingHaven Ash Tree Plan
WROA Common Ground
17 November 2015
The Board of Directors considered two Options.
Option A was based on the City of O’Fallon’s predicted Mortality Schedule that began in 2014 with a slow mortality rate that rapidly increases after 3 years. In our area, mass mortality is predicted to begin in the years 2018 through 2021 with a 80% mortality rate. This prediction is historically accurate based on the data from other communities infested since 2002. Option A was a plan to remove and replace Ash trees based on this mortality schedule. Therefore, as trees showed signs of infestation they would be removed and replaced.
Option B was based on the fact that Ash Trees will die from EAB. This Option is a more proactive and accelerated solution that removes and replaces trees on a set schedule (over 4 years), by area, whether infected or not. It begins the remove and replace process earlier. This process will begin in the fall of 2016.
The Board of Directors decided that Option B was the best and most practical approach. The attached chart reflects this approach. The chart lists Assumptions and Key Points.
Certain Key Points need to be highlighted and are instructive:
1. Beginning in the spring of 2016, the Grounds Committee will assess the condition of the Ash Tree population, by area, and give a report to the WROA Board of Directors. This will be done annually.
2. The Grounds Committee, in coordination with Runyon Landscape Management, must decide in the spring where in the community (area) the Remove and Replace Program is to commence and advise the Board of Directors. This will be accomplished annually over the 4 year period.
3. In coordination with Runyon Landscape Management, the Grounds Committee will also advise the Board of Directors, after a landscaping review, which trees do not need to be replaced or an alternative other than a tree that would be more effective and just as eye-appealing.
4. Future WROA Boards, of course, may decide to modify this Plan, as experience and lessons learned become available.
5. It is important that the Board of Directors document the experiences and lessons learned as the Plan is carried out.
6. The WROA.info website, Voting Members, and special information sessions for residents are resources that will be used to inform, communicate with and update the community.
CLICK HERE FOR THE TREE OPTION B CHART
Ash Trees
Mycosphaerella Leaf Spot
WingHaven Ash Trees are experiencing premature defoliation due to fungi. There are many Websites that provide in-depth information on this fungi. A few comments are quoted below from different sources. The Mo. Dept. of Conservation visited WingHaven and identified the above fungi as the cause of the defoliation. Infection is more common in wet conditions rather then drier. The prediction is that trees will come back with no problems. O Fallon City Landscape Dept. was also consulted.
“We often see a great deal of Mycosphaerella leaf spot on ash trees in areas that had wet summers. This year is no exception. Small, brown spots can enlarge to become blotches and may result in early leaf drop. Though this disease looks serious, it is not. Defoliation this late in the growing season will not hurt the health of the tree. Therefore, because this disease appears sporadically and tree health is not harmed, we do not recommend treatment. Furthermore, treatment would have to be preventative and applied before the disease had infected the leaves. Applying a fungicide now would have no effect.” (K-State Horticulture)
“A wet summer often produces an outbreak of Mycosphaerella leaf spot on ash trees, Upham said. It displays itself in small brown spots that can grow to blotches and can cause a tree to drop its leaves early. It may look bad, but it does not hurt a tree, he said.” (John C. Pair Horticulture)
*At the 21 September Board of Directors meeting, Mr Mark Grueber, Community Forester with the Mo. Dept. of Conservation, has been invited to speak to us about this particular fungi. To learn more about Mycosphaerella please mark your calendar and plan to attend on 21 Sept, 6PM, Air-Evac bldg. first floor conference room.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) update, 8-3-2015
Data collection is complete on WROA Common Ground. The results will be reported by the Grounds Committee at the August 17 WROA Board Meeting at 6:00 PM.
WingHaven EAB volunteers met on 27 June at 9:00am and received EAB data collection training. The volunteers were assigned specific WingHaven locations to survey for infestation, document , and evaluate the condition of Ash Trees using a GEO mapping link. This phase of the project is focused on WROA common ground. The teams target completion date is mid-July.
Thank you volunteers for your commitment and motivation. I appreciate your willingness to step forward. Thank you to Grounds Committee Chair Mr. Charles Nager for leading the training session.
If you see someone staring at an Ash Tree and holding a device….stop and ask how the process works. (Go to WROA.info, under Explore our Site, for more info on the EAB project)
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) 5 May 2015
The WingHaven (WH) Board of Directors and the *WH Grounds Committee are in the process of developing a Multi-Year Strategic Plan for addressing the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) that found its way into the O’Fallon communities. And yes, WH has Ash Trees. This insect will create an infestation that is fatal to all species of ash trees over the next 3-4 years. We are taking action now to preserve the future good looks of WH.
For in-depth information on EAB, please go to the below O’Fallon WEBSITE. This WEBSITE is very informative, instructive, and is the foundation for our planning activity. It answers many question.
www.ofallon.mo.us/emerald-ash-borer
The WROA WH Grounds Committee is the lead on this major project. They have been in contact and consulted with neighboring and out of state municipalities, the Mo. Dept. of Conservation and the O’Fallon City Landscaping Team.
Who is responsible for which Ash Trees?
The WROA is responsible for Ash Trees on WROA common ground.
The Master Association is responsible for Ash Trees on Master common ground.
Residents are responsible for maintenance of Ash Trees located on their private property. Residents are also responsible for maintenance of any tree, including Ash Trees, located between the sidewalk and the street that are adjacent to their property. (Please see O’Fallon WEBSITE referenced above)
So Where Do We Start?
A. The Data Collection Phase
Where are all the WH Ash Trees? What is their condition and the estimate of longevity.?
There is value in getting the community involved…..therefore we are seeking (12) volunteers who will use a Geo Mapping application tool. After a short training session, volunteers will be dispatched throughout WH collecting data on both Ash Trees and Pear Trees located between the sidewalk and the street, and all common ground.
Data will then be uploaded and mapped using, at no cost, O’Fallon City Servers. We can then analyze, understand, and scale the extent of infestation. Committee member Jason Storey has unparalleled skills in this area and is leading the data collection effort.
WE NEED 12 VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS DATA COLLECTION ACTIVITY. THINK IN TERMS OF PRESERVING THE BEAUTY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
Please contact Charles Nager the Grounds Committee Chair at …..CANager@charter.net…..to sign up as a volunteer.
B. Post Data Collection Phase
After the data is collected, mapped, and the progression of infestation is determined, we can then recommend a multi-year replacement plan by area and village.
What about Replacement Trees?
In the above WEBSITE, you will find recommended replacement species. The WROA will eventually recommend, after coordinating with Voting Members and Sub-Associations Board Members, 3 or 4 replacement species that fit the character of a particular village. The recommendation is to remove an Ash Tree when they are showing 50% death of the tree structure, and replace with a recommended species.
Please visit this site on occasion to keep informed. It will be updated as our planning and activity progress.
• The WH Grounds Committee
Charles Nager (Chairmen)
Jason Storey (Technology)
Tim Carlson
Dan Kohm
Dave Peroni
Mike Bronowicz (Board of Directors Liaison )
Thank you for your support
Dale Kling, President
WROA Board Of Directors
