Maryland Department of Agriculture

August 29, 2011 UPDATE

We hope that everyone is safe and recovering quickly from the weekend's hurricane. In the aftermath and clean up of fallen trees and branches, please be aware the Maryland EAB Quarantine prohibits the movement of ash wood or hardwood firewood from Maryland's Western Shore to the Eastern Shore, i.e. across the Chesapeake Bay and Susquehanna River, or out of state unless it is chipped to less than 1" in diameter in two dimensions. Quarantine restrictions apply to mixed wood of unknown species. Ash wood may move between and among the quarantined counties, Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s, Washington counties and Baltimore City. Please call 410.841.5920 with questions.

On On July 11, 2011, the Secretary of Agriculture signed a revised EAB Quarantine Order extending the quarantine to all of Maryland's Western Shore: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s, Washington counties and Baltimore City. Regulated articles may not be moved out of state or across the Chesapeake Bay or Susquehanna River. While they may be moved within and among the quarantined counties, we strongly discourage this. EAB has been found in pockets of Prince George's, Charles, Howard, Anne Arundel, Allegany, and Washington counties, but is not pervasive statewide. Movement of ash wood and firewood is still a very real concern to areas that don't have EAB populations. We appreciate your cooperation in taking every precaution to prevent accelerated spread of EAB in Maryland.

On June 8, 2011, EAB was confirmed from a site in Howard County. This is the first detection in that county and outside of the currently quarantined Prince George’s and Charles counties. Additional expansion outside of the known Infested Area in southern Prince George’s and northern Charles counties has also been detected on purple prism traps in Bowie, and Port Tobacco and Hughsville respectively. The Howard County detection was made by a licensed arborist who had completed the Invasive Species training offered by University of Maryland Extension. This serves as a reminder of how important it is for everyone to be on the lookout for EAB.

In 2011, we are continuing participation in the USDA Emerald Ash Borer Targeted Survey. Approximately 2,600 purple prism traps are deployed around the state to survey for emerald ash borer. Also in cooperation with USDA, biocontrol efforts continue in the core infested area. Three beneficial insect species have been released in four program and four research locations since 2009. All three species successfully overwintered from 2009 to 2010. Parasitism by endemic beneficials has also been documented at low, but persistent, levels.

As of September 1, 2009, provision 6. (g) of the Maryland EAB Quarantine is no longer in effect. This is the provision: "Except as directed by the Secretary, the movement and planting of all ash nursery stock within the Infested Area is prohibited until September 1, 2009."

This means that nursery stock may be moved freely WITHIN the Infested Area, approximately the northern half of Charles and southern half of Prince George's Counties, although we strongly discourage it. This sunset provision has served its purpose and we do not plan to renew it. This is in compliance with the federal quarantine, and consistent with other state quarantines.

THE REMAINDER OF THE QUARANTINE IS STILL IN EFFECT INDEFINITELY. This means that:

• Regulated articles, including nursery stock, may NOT be moved out of the Infested Area, or out of the Quarantine Area, both shown in the Quarantine Diagram.
• Except as directed by the Secretary, regulated articles may NOT be moved within the Eradication Zone, which currently is defined as the ash free zones within the red lines on the current project area map.

Survey activities:
A total of 2,478 purple sticky traps were deployed in 18 Maryland counties and monitored over the summer. EAB beetles have been collected from thirteen traps, all in and around the project area. Please see the "Survey Maps" section to view trap locations and positive trap sites. 1,006 sentinel trap trees were deployed in and around the project area. 750 of these trees were treated with insecticide. An additional 428 natural and landscape ash trees in the project area, but outside of the ash free zone, were treated with insecticide. No new EAB infestations have been detected outside of the project area in southern Prince George's and northern Charles Counties.

Eradication and management:
We do not plan to cut any more ash trees as part of an eradication strategy. The current new positives show an "edge effect" suggesting that cutting has been somewhat effective, but not enough to stop EAB completely. Insecticide treatments are available that will be more practical and equally effective in mitigating potential damage of EAB in the infested area, and preventing its spread. In cooperation with USDA Forest Service, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, and Agricultural Research Service, the MDA is releasing three species of beneficial wasps in the project area. These sites will be actively monitored to see the impact the parasitoids have on the beetle.

During the winter of 2008-2009 an additional approximately 6,150 ash trees were removed from the Maryland emerald ash borer (EAB) project area in Prince George’s and Charles Counties, bringing the total to about 42,000 trees removed on ~17,000 acres since 2003. As new tools have become available, we are modifying our EAB eradication and containment strategy. The following outlines the next steps that will be taken in Maryland (see 2009 Project Area Map):

• We will continue to resurvey the ash free zone to ensure that all ash has been removed. If ash trees are found they will be removed or treated.
• We will plant 500 pairs (1,000 total) of 1 ½ -2” dbh green ash as trap trees in and around the ash free zone to capture and/or kill emerging EAB. We intend to treat ½ of these trees with systemic insecticides that are lethal to the adults that feed on the leaves or the larvae that may end up under the bark. Each treated tree will be paired with an untreated tree that will be harvested in the fall, providing population density information.
• While the trap trees will act as an EAB “sponge” where the ash has been removed, we also intend to selectively treat or cut natural and landscape ash trees in the project area, but outside of the ash free zone, in an attempt to eliminate pocket infestations resulting from EAB escapes. We will notify landowners in advance of our intent to remove or treat their ash trees.
• An extensive statewide network of up to 4,000 purple sticky traps will be set and monitored during the flight season of the adult EAB (May – July/August). These survey activities are critical as we continually evaluate the situation and adjust our strategy based on real time field data.

On Friday, August 15, 2008, suspect EAB infested ash trees were discovered a little over two miles south of the eradication zone in Charles County. The identification was confirmed as EAB by the USDA on Monday, August 25. This infestation was discovered while MDA crews were surveying in a ½ mile radius of the previously reported June 25 prism trap catch. Other traps in Prince George's (outside of the active project area) and Charles Counties are negative to date, including several 1-2 miles away from this site.

The Secretary of Agriculture issued a revised quarantine order on August 26, 2008 to encompass Charles Co., and extend the nested quarantine into the northern part of Charles County. This action has been taken to prevent the movement of EAB infested material from Charles County and according to federal protocols. The Infested Area has further restrictions to prevent the movement of at risk material from the known core area of the EAB infestation.

We are currently continuing to assess the situation, including sending samples to the USDA to determine the age of the infestation, conducting delimiting survey in the area to get a better idea of how widespread it is, and assembling a MD team to work with the USDA Science Panel and Management Team to determine the next steps for the Maryland project.

One of the purple prism traps placed in the 1-mile grid survey in Prince George's County has caught one adult EAB. The trap was serviced June 25, 2008. It is 3.4 miles from any previously known infested tree in the EZ (see map) and about .4 mi. from the Charles County line. We are currently conducting surveys and working with the national EAB Science Panel and Management Team to determine the best course of action. To date, no other sign of EAB has been found in the area and, of 954 traps statewide, this is the only positive outside of the EZ. We will post new information on this site as it becomes available.

We have had several inquiries about the status of our program in Maryland in light of the recent Virginia EAB detections. We are currently continuing with ongoing surveys as planned. We are in contact with the Virginia Department of Ag. and Consumer Services (VDACS) and national EAB Program and will re-assess the situation as it is warranted based on survey results both in VA and MD. A combined VA MD map is posted for reference.

Survey activities are ongoing, with no new infestations to report. EAB adults are flying in Maryland now. Our overall survey and eradication* plan continues as follows:

1. Count, mark, and remove all ash trees within an eradication zone of ½ mile per year of estimated age of infestation around the farthest known infested trees, prior to EAB Spring emergence.
2. Grind harvested wood to less than 1" in two dimensions.
3. Conduct delimiting survey in a ½ - mile buffer around the EZ, sampling 10% of all ash in each grid.
4. Participate in other survey activities to determine whether EAB occurs in the state outside of the quarantined area in Southern Prince George's County.

* Currently, Maryland's plan for responding to new EAB infestations follows the general USDA management criteria:

• Outlier must be a single, clearly identifiable regulatory incident.
• Dendrochronology and delimiting survey demonstrate the population is less than 2 years old with 1 population release.
• With current technologies, site is determined to be eradicatable.
• Control cuts for EAB populations older than 2 years may be considered if circumstances indicate eradication may be achieved or a control action is determined to be strategically important for slowing the spread.

Governor Martin O’Malley has declared May 18-24 to be Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week in Maryland. The proclamation is part of an ongoing effort to inform residents about ways to help stop the spread of the emerald ash borer, a destructive pest that kills ash trees. The focus of the campaign is to encourage campers, anglers, scouts, and other outdoor enthusiasts to leave firewood at home, buy it at their destination and burn it completely. Click here to learn more.

FEBRUARY 2008 UPDATE
In early January, logging and arborist activities commenced to remove ash trees in the new northern and western bump-out areas, and residual ash trees in the core area. The total new area is ~3,000 acres or 4 square miles, encompassing a 3/4 mile radius around the new detections. All identified ash trees will be removed by April 1, 2008. We will again be planting trap ash trees in the EZ to absorb any potential egg laying in the core infested area. Delimiting survey is ongoing in the new 1/2 mile buffer zone.

We will be trapping this spring and summer for emerald ash borer adults in Prince George's County and surrounding areas. In addition to destructive sampling, some experimental trap/lure combinations will also be incorporated. Volunteers from the Prince Georges Master Gardeners are assisting in the execution of this trapping effort by locating suitable ash sites.

We are also involved in a gridded '100 mile survey' from the known leading edge of EAB in infested states. There will be approximately 400 traps in Garrett and Allegany Counties, with 1 trap/1.5 mile in the designated grided area.

On July 31, four infested trees were discovered in delimiting survey in the 1 1/2 - 2 mile buffer on the northern edge of the project area just over the line from the EZ. Three exit holes were detected on two of the trees. We are working with USDA scientists to determine the age of the infestation and conducting more delimiting survey in the surrounding area in order to plan our course of action for this fall and winter.

On August 10, additional larvae were found about one mile north of the June 1 detection, inside the southwestern edge of the 2-mile buffer. Again, no exit holes were detected in this area.

Project Update August 7, 2007 (pdf)

Prince George's County, Maryland is now under the Federal EAB Quarantine. On Friday, June 1, an Interim rule and request for comments was published in the Federal Register. To view or comment, go to http://www.regulations.gov/ and search for Document ID APHIS-2007-0028-0001, Docket Title "Emerald Ash Borer; Quarantined Areas; Maryland." The deadline for commenting is July 31, 2007.

Key points regarding the State vs. Federal Quarantines:

• This means that any ash wood, chips, or hardwood firewood originating in Prince George's County must now be approved by the USDA for movement out of the state.
• Intrastate movement of regulated articles from Prince George's County is still under the authority of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Nothing in State Quarantine Order #07-01 has changed. The federal quarantine only applies to regulated articles that are destined out of the State.
• The federal quarantine considers composted ash chips to be regulated. The State only regulates uncomposted ash chips.
• Wood that is considered to be unregulated by the State because it is less than 1" in diameter in two dimensions, is considered to be a regulated article under the federal quarantine, and cannot leave the state if it originates in Prince George's County, regardless of where the shipping point is, unless under compliance agreement with USDA.
• Questions? Please call 410.841.5920.

Ash inventory in the 1 1/2 - 2 mile buffer was completed on May 25. Survey crews are working on delimiting survey of 10% of ash trees greater than or equal to 1" dbh.

On Friday, June 1, the MD survey crew dropped and peeled a mostly dead, ~60' ash tree and found galleries about 30' up the tree. The tree was just inside the WSW edge of the 2-mile buffer (click on "Survey Maps" link to the left). Three galleries, one EAB larva, and one dead adult were found. No D-shaped holes were detected. Other ash trees surveyed nearby have been negative for EAB.

Before we make a decision on how to proceed with redrawing the EZ and buffer, survey teams are assessing the situation. More information will be posted as it becomes available.

MAY 13 2007 UPDATE

PHENOLOGICAL NOTE: We have observed that black locust flowering appears to correspond with the first emergence of emerald ash borer adults in Maryland, as has been observed in mid-Western states. Black locust started flowering about Wednesday, May 2, 2007 in the Brandywine/Clinton area. On May 4, trees that had not been removed in the core infested area were discovered. MDA staff destructively sampled one 5" DBH tree completely, finding 2 empty pupal chambers, 29 adults (several near the bark surface chewing their way out), 1 pupa, and 1 late instar larva. The other trees were partially sampled with similar results. We plan on leaving the trees in place until the fall, using them as trap trees for emerging adults.

This find is in a known heavliy infested area inside the EZ and will not require an additional bump-out of the current buffer. Adult EAB emergence is not unexpected in the EZ - removal of whips, fallen debris, and an occasional missed tree is ongoing. Because the bulk of the ash resource has been removed, any EAB adults that do emerge will either perish, or reproduce in trap trees that will be chipped up in the fall.

APRIL 13 2007 UPDATE

As of Friday, the 13th of April, 2007, preliminary eradication of ash trees greater than or equal to 1" dbh in the Eradication Zone (EZ) is completed. Following is a summary of activities as of April 11:

• Total ash trees removed to date: 23,506
• Estimated ash trees less than 1” dbh remaining: ~37,875

Follow-up survey and eradication activities, including site mitigation, removal of ash tree whips and fallen material, continued surveillance in Prince George's and surrounding counties, and quarantine compliance will be ongoing through the summer.

Please note: if you are a resident of the Clinton/Brandywine area and your ash tree has been removed, but you still have a stump or your yard needs to be fixed, please be patient. Our arborists are in the process of going back through your neighborhoods for site mitigation, now that the trees are all cut. We greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

URBAN REFORESTATION UPDATE:
Please Join Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown for an Earth Day Kick-off Tree Planting and Announcement of a Replacement Tree Program for Homeowners Who Lost Their Ash Trees to the Emerald Ash Borer Eradication Project on Friday, April 20, 2007, 9:30 a.m.
Click here for details.

MARCH 12 2007 UPDATE

The Maryland EAB quarantine has been revised. Quarantine Order #07-01 was signed by Maryland Agriculture Secretary Roger Richardson on Friday, March 9, 2007. Primary changes:

• Definition of Eradication Zone added
• Moving any regulated article in the Eradication Zone is prohibited
• Specifies "including any piece thereof" to definitions of regulated articles
• Allows activities "as directed by the Secretary" in the quarantined areas

To date, more than 11,000 ash trees have been removed from the Eradication Zone.

Special Thanks - We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the many higly skilled volunteers from agriculture and forestry departments in the states of Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia who have come to help with the Maryland eradication. More than 2000 person-hours have been tallied by our neighbors who have shown up to help and learn. This unprecedented regional cooperation is helping us to reach our goal of eradication of all ash >1" by April 1.

FEBRUARY 16 2007 UPDATE

For the initial emergency clean up, we will be accepting wood debris from the Eradication Zone, at the EAB marshaling yard, 11701 Crain Highway, Cheltenham Maryland, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. The following is required:

1. Call in advance, 410.562.0167 or 410.562.3914, to schedule a delivery time.
2. Provide the Site Marshall with a copy of written documentation that the wood is from the Eradication Zone (e.g. copy of contract with street address).

JANUARY 30 2007 UPDATE

A log that was pulled as a spot check from a load of harvested wood coming from Compartment 14 into the marshaling yard on January 10 has been determined to have EAB exit holes. The logging activity that day was near the trees known to be infested with larvae on the eastern edge of the previous 1 1/2 mile eradication zone (EZ), near Boys Village. Because of this detection, we have expanded the EZ for a new total of ca. 13,700 acres. A revised buffer map is posted.

JANUARY 19 2007 UPDATE

***PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE***

• Tuesday, January 30, 2007, 7:00 p.m. Walden Woods Elementary School, 10301 Thrift Road, Clinton, MD 20735.

Eradication of ash trees within in the 1 ½ mile eradication buffer is underway. Harvested trees are being taken to a marshaling yard where they are ground to less than 1" pieces to destroy any EAB larvae that may be present.

Logging operations began in wooded compartments on December 28, 2006. Approximately 1800 acres of woods contain ash trees to be removed. In wooded areas, stumps are being treated with an environmentally sound product to prevent resprouting.

Ash inventory survey continues in residential areas. Removal of street and homeowner ash trees will begin after the public meeting. Trees to be cut are marked with orange paint. Residents will receive additional information on a door hanger if their property is scheduled for tree removal. Additional ash trees may be marked and removed as we revisit completed areas. In residential areas, the stumps will be ground to below the soil line, and chips and/or soil will be used to fill the hole. There may be a delay between when the tree is cut and the stump is removed because of the need to wait until the ground is dry enough to access the stump without damaging the area around it.

Many people are asking about urban reforestation. We understand how devastating it will be for property owners to lose their ash trees. However, at the present time, no definitive plan has been developed to replace landscaped trees, nor is there a guarantee that trees will be replaced. We are exploring several avenues to accomplish this in cooperation with the County, Maryland’s nursery industry, and the US Department of Agriculture. Information will be posted to this Website as this progresses.

Delimiting survey is ongoing, concurrent with ash inventory in the 1 ½ - 2 mile buffer, as well as spot checks in the eradication zone. Another infested tree was discovered on December 27 about ½ mile from the 1 ½ mile eradication area border (see map). No exit holes were found and larval pressure was light. This makes sense in the context of the natural spread of EAB. We are conferring with the National Science Panel on this, but will not move the eradication buffer out at this time.

NOVEMBER 27 2006 UPDATE

***PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE***

• Wednesday, Nov. 29, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Frederick Douglass High School, 8000 Croom Rd. Upper Marlboro (Library).
• Thursday, Dec. 7, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Surrattsville High School, 6101 Garden Dr., Clinton (Cafeteria).

MFS personnel have completed the ash volume survey in wooded areas in the 1 1/2 mile buffer and are working with MDA to develop contracts for logging and preparing the marshaling yard. We expect logging to commence in mid-December.

MDA continues ash inventory survey in residential areas and emerald ash borer delimitation in the 1 1/2-2 mile buffer.

NOVEMBER 7 2006 UPDATE

Because of the discovery of an infested tree with emergence holes and galleries in the Summitt Creek neighborhood North of the 2003 eradication area, the eradication area has been expanded, as shown on the updated survey map (link on left).

Survey protocol has been altered to accomodate the increased eradication area. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest Service (MFS) is assuming operational control of ground/harvest operations in wooded areas in the 1 1/2 mile eradication buffer area and will begin volume survey on the majority of woodland areas the week of November 6. Data will be used to help form contracts with loggers and to estimate amount of timber volume to be chipped/disposed of. Affected areas will be divided into divisions with one logger and 1-2 MFS reps assigned to each division to begin harvesting. Several loggers will be contracted to do harvesting in an effort to speed up the eradication process. The MDA will continue ash inventory in residential areas and will focus efforts on emerald ash borer delimitation survey in the 1 1/2 to 2 mile buffer area.

OCTOBER 18 2006 UPDATE

On October 5, in following up on a homeowner call, survey teams found infested trees with emergence holes and galleries in a neighborhood SE of the 2003 eradication area. Additional trees with exit holes and galleries have been identified around this site. The eradication area has been expanded based on these new detections, as shown on the updated survey map (link on left).

OCTOBER 3 2006 UPDATE

Ash inventory survey began on September 25 in a 2-mile radius from the farthest known emerald ash borer positive tree. Following this inventory, destructive sampling of ash trees for presence of the emerald ash borer will begin. All ash within a 1 1/2 mile buffer will be eradicated when the surveys are complete. Additional areas may be selected for ash eradication as determined by survey results.

100 dormant, bare root green ash purchased from Baileys Nursery were planted April 10 at the same 4 locations used the previous two years – 40 trees in the nursery, 20 at the eradication site (both within the ½ mile ash free cut zone), 20 at Fort Washington and 20 at the Odenton Route 32/170 interchange.

Visual surveys in the ash free zone (1/2 mile buffer) were conducted each year to verify all ash had been removed. No ash over ¼” has been found.

The trees were serviced 8 times (bi-weekly). This entailed removing the plastic wrap coated with tanglefoot and renewing with fresh materials. Gaye Williams would examine each of the 100 wraps for EAB. No EAB where detected using this method.

All 100 sentinel trees planted April 10, 2006 were harvested on August 14 and completely stripped August 15. One of the 20 ash sentinel trees planted at the marshalling area, next to Burch Hill Rd, inside the ½ mile buffer in Brandywine, was infested with 3 larvae (3 galleries) believed to be Agrilus planipennis. No exit holes were found. The larvae were collected and prepared for USDA confirmation by Gaye Williams. Jim Zablotny, USDA, provided confirmation 8/21/06.

Two native trees girdled in Nov, 2005 outside of the ½ mile buffer were felled on Wednesday, August 16. The tree NW of the marshalling area (N38.72946 W76.89133), was found to contain numerous larvae (13 larvae submitted to MDA taxonomist) and galleries. Approximately 1/3 - ½ of the bark was removed from the 7.2" dbh tree. This tree was approximately 440 feet from the buffer edge and 2000 feet from the marshalling area sentinel tree. No exit holes were found.

The second tree, located NE of the marshalling area (N38.7336 W76.8784) and 5.2" dbh was completely stripped. No signs of EAB were detected. Two trees at this location were girdled for next year, if not removed sooner.

An emergence hole was detected 5/25/04 by an MDA field supervisor tending sentinel trees at a landscaped Fort Washington, P.G. County, site. The recently built apartment building property was landscaped by Ed's Plant World. Ash trees had been planted in 2002, some of which died and were replanted in 2003. The emergence hole was in one of ten trees that were believed to have been planted in 2002 and not removed from the site. The remaining 9 trees have been removed, stripped and were found to be clean. It is likely that the infested tree had been planted in 2003 and was misidentified when the removal occured.

A similar situation exists at a reforestation site in Anne Arundel County at the Route 32 and 170 interchange. This site was inspected the following day (5/26) and again a single exit hole was detected. The remaining approximately 125 ash at this site were intensively reinspected 5/27/04 and no additional signs of activity were detected.

Nursery records and regulatory investigations by Maryland Department of Agriculture and USDA indicated that a Maryland nursery received 121 ash trees from Michigan in two shipments in April of 2003. This was an isolated incident. There are no other ash tree shipments into Maryland that are suspect for emerald ash borer.

In the spring of 2003, there was adult emergence of the emerald ash borer from the ash trees shipped into Maryland. The adult females laid eggs, and actively feeding larvae were found in trees from both the nursery and outplanted trees. Larvae that survived the winter in outplanted trees are expected to emerge as adults in late April or May of 2004. There will likely be only one generation per year.

MDA destroyed all ash trees still in the nursery and completed emerald ash borer eradication efforts in a 1/2 mile buffer around the nursery. Through a cooperative effort involving federal, state and local officials, private contractors, public utilities, landowners, and business people, approximately 1100 potentially infested ash trees were destroyed on 500 acres of public and private land around the site of the 2003 introduction.

MDA continues to monitor for emerald ash borer in Maryland at all sites where exposed trees are known to have been planted. A Quarantine Order issued on March 16, 2004 restricted the movement of ash trees and ash material into, out of, or through an area around the initially affected nursery in southern Prince George’s County.