Emerald Ash Tree Removal to Preserve Bondurant’s Tree Canopy

Early in 2021, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) shared the 2020 Urban Forest Management Plan with the Bondurant Parks and Recreation Board. The plan is developed to assist the City of Bondurant with managing its urban forest, including budgeting and future planning. Preserving and expanding the City’s tree canopy is a crucial goal.  The City planted 90 trees in 2021 in support of this goal and, unfortunately, the City has to remove some diseased trees in an effort to preserve healthy trees.

Trees can provide many benefits to the community and sound management allows a community to take advantage of these benefits. Control is essential, particularly considering the severe threats of forest pests such as the emerald ash borer (EAB). EAB is an invasive insect imported from Eastern Asia on wood shipping crates that kill all ash tree species (this does not include mountain ash). According to the 2020 Urban Forest Management Plan, there is a strong possibility that 9% of Bondurant’s city-owned trees (ash) will die once EAB becomes established in the community unless preventative treatment is used.

Throughout town, you may have noticed there are some X’s on publicly-owned trees. These are the trees that will need to be removed because of EAB.  The City intends to replace these trees and wanted the public to be aware of the reason that some trees are being cut down.

This year a general contractor will provide services for the removal and clean-up of the dead, diseased, and dying trees throughout Bondurant. Below is a list of the sites where trees will be removed:

• One tree located on residential right-of-way (ROW) at 105 Lincoln St. SE
• Two trees located on residential ROW at 201 Lincoln St. SE
• One tree located on residential ROW at 301 Lincoln St. SE
• Two trees located on city-owned property at 203 Lincoln St. SE (City Park)
• Six trees located on city-owned property at 200 Second St. NE (Bondurant City Center)
• Four trees located on city-owned property at 1250 Jr. Haines Parkway NE (Lake Petocka Park)

Click here to view a google map showing the locations of the trees to be removed.