Brooks Ostendorf and Erica Ellefson updated us on how the City has assessed the impact of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), strategized a plan for addressing the damage, and planned for the urban forest’s recovery from the pandemic. Urban Forestry in River Falls manages around 8000 trees, not including open spaces. The need to remove diseased trees and replant new trees is an ongoing major project that has accelerated due to the EAB pandemic. Brooks and Erica showed us trunk segments, with the damage from larvae, and the slides (See the PDF in Download Files below) show more details of the damage and symptoms. Click READ MORE to read more and DOWNLOAD FILES to see a pdf of the slides.
The presentation moved on to the action plan the forestry team has implemented, which puts a strong emphasis on tree species diversification and its emphasis on long-term sustainability. Brooks noted that, over time, diseases and pests have reduced the populations of various types of trees, making diverse trees the wise option. The final list provides a list of the approved boulevard tree list. It was noted that tree selections for various locations will be made by the city, not the property owner.
About the Speakers: Brooks Ostendorf is the Conservation and Parks Manager as well as the City Forester for the City. He is a licensed landscape architect that has partnered with municipalities across the United States, but is thrilled to now serve the one and only River Falls community. He, his wife, and 2-year old daughter spend as much time as possible visiting parks and gardens across the metro area. Erica Ellefson is the Public Works Manager for the City. She is responsible for overall maintenance of the parks, pool and splashpad, streets, public trees, storm sewers, yard waste drop site, and City fleet. In her free time, she enjoys fishing and cruising around in their 1968 Chevelle.