The invasive beetle confirmed near a Tualatin shopping center in June now has a public education event on the calendar: a free workshop on Friday, Aug. 21, where residents can learn to identify the emerald ash borer, spot infestations and file reports before the pest spreads further into Tigard-area neighborhoods.
The Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District and the City of Newberg are hosting the outdoor session from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Chehalem Glenn Golf Course, 4501 E. Fernwood Road, Newberg. Registration is free at the Yamhill SWCD event page so organizers can plan for food and beverages.
The workshop is the first organized public education event tied to the five-county quarantine zone covering Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, Washington and Yamhill counties. The Oregon Department of Forestry confirmed emerald ash borers at a shopping center near Tualatin and in a Newberg parking lot in June. A tip to the Oregon Invasive Species Hotline led an Oregon Department of Agriculture investigator to two Newberg trees that were "heavily infested" and six more lightly infested, according to Your Oregon News.
As we reported Aug. 6, the beetle puts ash trees along the Fanno Creek Trail and in yards across Tigard, Tualatin and Durham at direct risk. Additional infestations were confirmed this summer inside Beaverton, at Bethany Lake Park in Rock Creek and along the Banks-Vernonia State Trail.
"That's exactly what we're starting to see with these detections," Cody Holthouse, manager of the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Insect Pest Prevention and Management Program, said in an Aug. 6 ODA press release reported by the Valley Times, describing how populations build slowly at first, then spread rapidly in all directions.
What to look for
Emerald ash borer larvae tunnel beneath bark, cutting off water and nutrients. Infested trees typically die within two to five years. Telltale signs include a thinning canopy, dying branches and splits along the bark. The most visible clue is D-shaped exit holes where beetles leave the tree, though at only three millimeters wide they are easy to miss.
Adults are active only from June through September. Officials recommend homeowners stop planting ash and olive trees and have a professional treat high-value ash trees in good condition before infestation takes hold.
How to attend
The Aug. 21 workshop will cover ash tree identification, signs of infestation and how to submit a report. Organizers suggest bringing water, bug spray and a phone to access reporting websites. Wear sturdy shoes; the terrain may be uneven.
Residents who suspect an infestation at any time can report it at oregoninvasiveshotline.org. The Oregon Department of Forestry also maintains an online map at OregonEAB.com showing confirmed infestation areas.
Contact the Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District at 503-583-8551 or [email protected] with questions about the workshop.
Coming up
The Tigard Farmers Market runs Sundays through Oct. 25 at Tigard Street Heritage Plaza. Tigard's next City Council meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 2.
