The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been found in the City of Broomfield, bringing the damaging insect in close proximity to the city’s ash trees.At this time, the EAB has not been located within Westminster, however, it may be present yet undetected.

With the spread of the EAB to Broomfield, the city’s Forestry division recommends residents consult with tree care companies employing arborists certified through the International Society of Arboriculture. Certified arborists will help determine whether ash trees are healthy enough to preserve and recommend treatment options.

There are an estimated 69,000 privately-owned ash trees in the city, and about one in seven city trees being an ash tree. Untreated ash trees will die when infected with the EAB.

If ash tree owners haven’t done so already, they should consider having their ash trees treated. It is less expensive to treat trees than to remove and replace them.

The city has about 1,700 city-maintained ash trees and about 1,200 of those trees are healthy enough to qualify for preservation treatments. The goal is to treat one third of the trees on a three-year rotating basis. The city’s Forestry staff treated 205 trees in 2017 and is currently contracting 500 preventative ash treatments with Taddiken Tree Company for 2019.

• Learn more about the EAB

For questions, contact City Forester John Kasza at jkasza@westminsterco.gov or 303-658-2559 or Assistant City Forester Bryan McCoy at 303-658-2287 or bmccoy@westminsterco.gov.