Is Shorewood Losing Its Ash (Trees)?

A $20,000 survey of Shorewood's trees revealed that the village has too many maples and ash trees — the very species in jeopardy of dying out due to the infestation of foreign pests and diseases.

Arborist Thomas McArdle presented his study of Shorewood's trees to the board during a Tuesday night meeting.

According to McArdle's report, more than 60 percent of the 8,100 some-odd trees growing in Shorewood's parkways are ash and maple and were "recently planted in association within the village's newer subdivisions."

"Given that pests and diseases typically attack tree species of the same genus, maple and ash trees have been significantly overutilized in new plantings," McArdle said in his report. "The many ash trees, 29.3 percent of the village total, are under immediate threat from (the) emerald ash borer."

The emerald ash borer is a beetle from Asia that was discovered in North America for the first time in 2002 and may be responsible for the deaths of as many as 100 million ash trees.

McArdle said no single tree species should make up more than five to 10 percent of an entire tree population. By his numbers, Shorewood's tree composition is way out of whack, and he recommended not planting any more ash trees.

"The use of more maples, honey locusts and Bradford pears should also be discouraged," McArdle said in his report.

Instead, McArdle suggested planting gingkos, hackberries, Kentucky coffeetrees, sweet gums, bald cypresses and tulip trees. He also said various types of oak trees would be good, even though they cost more and grow slower than other species.

McArdle also recommended drafting legislation to protect and enhance "urban forest resources," and to train and "educate public works employees to identify potential hazardous trees or provide early detection for pest and disease infestation."