Current Status of EAB in New York State
Orange County Added to Ulster and Green County Quarantine
See the EAB Quarantine page for more information. Read DEC's press release about this amended Quarantine.
EAB Found at West Point in Orange County
Read DEC's press release about EAB at West Point.
An adult emerald ash borer was discovered on July 13, 2011 in an emerald ash borer purple prism trap that was hung in an ash tree at the West Point campus. The purple prism trap is a tool used to detect new emerald ash borer infestations. The emerald ash borer specimen was confirmed by USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) staff. An initial site investigation by DEC regional staff, Cornell University and West Point Natural Resources staff did not find any infested ash trees.
With this new detection confirmed, the state and federal emerald ash borer quarantine of Ulster and Greene County will be expanded to include Orange County. The quarantine restricts the movement of ash tree materials out of those counties to prevent human transport of the pest.
EAB Found in Buffalo
Read DEC's press release about EAB in Buffalo.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was found in the City of Buffalo's South Park in June 2011. This is the first EAB infestation to be detected in Erie County. Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy staff and volunteers discovered the infestation within days of completing an EAB awareness training.
Ash now makes up less than 2% of Buffalo's street tree population and roughly 10% of trees in city parks. DEC, Cornell University, the City of Buffalo and Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy began collaborative response efforts to address the infestation at South Park immediately after the discovery. Initial surveying suggests that less than a dozen trees in South Park show signs of infestation; the trees are located along the park's perimeter in a natural wooded area.
An intensified delimitation survey at the site and surrounding area is being conducted to determine the extent of infestation. Information from the survey will be used to establish "Management Response Areas" around the delimited core area. In accordance with DEC's Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM) strategy, management actions appropriate to each defined area will be taken.
Please see various news reports about EAB in Buffalo in the Links Leaving DEC's Website on the right column of this page.
EAB Found in Rochester
An Emerald Ash Borer infestation was discovered in June 2011 by City Forestry Division personnel in and around Upper Falls Park on St. Paul Street Downtown. Seventeen ash trees in the area appear to be infested and one of them has died.
In anticipation of EAB reaching Rochester, the City's Forestry Division has already inventoried how many ash trees the city has in addition to where they are and identified their condition. This is an important step all communities should take in order to assess what the necessary labor required and costs will be.
Other recommended steps being taken by Rochester include pre-emptive removal of at-risk ash trees and replacement with non-host species and chemical treatment with approved insecticides.
Please see various news reports about EAB in Rochester in the Links Leaving DEC's Website on the right column of this page.
