The Emerald Ash Borer has been found in the Village of Bellevue as of April, 2017. To help you understand EAB and the impact it will have on the Village please view our EAB story board.
More than 1,068 public ash trees located on Village right-of-ways and park properties are destined for infestation by emerald ash borer (EAB). The Village of Bellevue has launched a campaign to help residents understand the changes that emerald ash borer will soon bring to our Village’s urban forest. Ash trees are being preemptively removed throughout the village. Ash trees that are visibly infected with EAB are marked with a green "E" to alert others of the eminent removal of the infected tree. 
In 2009, the emerald ash borer was confirmed to be in neighboring Green Bay. More recently EAB has been confirmed in Brown County in De Pere, Glenmore, Green Bay, Ashwaubenon, Allouez, Morrison, and Bellevue. EAB is quickly spreading across the state and it is inevitable that all untreated ash trees will become infested with the beetle and eventually die. This approaching loss of ash trees will cause a drastic change to Bellevue's tree population.
To rebuild the urban forest canopy after the emerald ash borer arrives, the Village planted 100 “Buddy” trees beside existing ash. After the ash tree declines and is removed following the infestation, the buddy tree stays behind to maintain the urban forest. Ash trees along the East River Trail were given buddies in May 2015 with help from volunteers from RAIZED church. More buddy trees were planted beside park trees during the spring of 2016 at Josten Park.
Adopt-an-Ash sponsored pesticide applications (Emamectin Benzoate) for street trees were administered in June 2015 and 2016. Emamectin Benzoate is a chemical injected directly into the base of the trunk and does not leech into the soil or air. Over a dozen street trees have been protected from the emerald ash borer by resident donations. Residents may notice a small black or yellow plug at the base of treated trees. These plugs do not harm the tree and will eventually be grown over with new bark. More information can be found here on the Ash Tree Options page. Treatments begin in the spring of the year.
Tree inspections are conducted to evaluate ash trees in the Village. Through the use of an aerial lift, the Village Forester inspects ash tree crowns and takes branch samples from street and park trees. The photo above shows sampling at Josten park.
Trees are cool! As shown above, fifteen residents took a walk with Vijai Pandian, UW Horticulture Extension agent, through the UW Extension arboretum in Bellevue to learn how to identify ash and other unique trees for backyard landscape and their site requirements.
Residents seeking more information about the emerald ash borer including alternatives to ash and EAB treatment methods are encouraged to view the EAB Helpful Resources page.
The Village of Bellevue Board adopted the EAB Readiness Plan at the 8/26/15 Village Board meeting. This plan will help guide the Village in the decision making process when addressing EAB in the Village.
EAB project funded in part by an Urban Forestry Grant from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forestry Program as authorized under S.23.097, Wisconsin Statutes.