Emerald Ash Borer Infestation in Oregon Slated for Intentional Burning as an Eradication Effort

In their bid for eradication of the emerald ash borer infestation, Oregon is considering intentionally burning down trees.

Emerald Ash Borer Infestation in Oregon

The emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that destroys ash trees, is an issue in Oregon. A number of state agencies are working together to fight the ash borer, and one result of this struggle is expected to be wood smoke emissions from ash trees that have been purposely burned because they are afflicted or dead.

Ash predominates in some areas of the Tualatin River Watershed.

Since its initial detection in Michigan approximately two decades ago, the emerald ash borer has been responsible for the demise of an estimated 40 million trees in the region. Heavy local losses are anticipated.

According to Wyatt Williams, an expert on invasive species with ODF, the bug can destroy 95% of ash trees in as little as 10 years. Since the invasive beetle was found in Washington County last year, Williams has been cataloging it, NBC KOBI5 reports.

Intentional Burning and Air Quality

Using wood that was recently removed from forests in the Tualatin River Watershed, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and Clean Water Services of Washington County (CWS) collaborated on test burning.

The emissions data gathered has various ramifications for how governments should handle open burning, whether it be getting rid of sick trees or clearing dead wood from natural disasters, both locally and throughout the US.

Data on emissions from a week of burning in an air curtain incinerator were gathered by the DEQ.

According to Thomas Rhodes of the DEQ, it is quite evident that this produces significantly less smoke and smell when compared to open burning. For these units, the agency is attempting to collect additional site-specific emissions data.

The fact that there is so little information available for the various pollutants produced during the combustion along with the operation of these ACIs is what really interested Rhodes in this solution. As a result, Oregon is taking an unusual step by trying to capture these emissions and using EPA test methods to quantify them so that the department can make better-permitting decisions.

According to Randy Lawrence, a project manager with Clean Water Services, soil carbon, water filtering, and biochar, which are the byproduct of burning the wood, are all very important to CWS. Four water treatment plants run by CWS discharge into the Tualatin River.

The emerald ash borer can be controlled by treating certain trees and burning others. In the wake of the pest, CWS might have a locally obtained material to restore streams that were harmed by it. Additionally, the DEQ believes that the emissions data will serve as a guide for cities all throughout the US to burn fuel much more cleanly in the greater fight for cleaner air. By early August, test results should be available, KGW8 reports.

Previous Biocontrol

To eradicate EAB, Massachusetts unleashed parasitic wasps in 2007. One crucial lesson was the necessity of taking into account and comparing EAB's phenology to that of the parasitoid. The fact that there is no "one-size-fits-all" parasitoid was another lesson acquired.

For instance, one species of wasp that performed well in the North could not penetrate thick bark, whereas another wasp that was much bigger and could do so did not appear to do as well. A new parasitoid species from Russia, which emerged in the spring of 2018 and is more in time with EAB in the North, is on the horizon, according to the response plan drafted by The State of Oregon.