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Dutch Elm Disease Still Active in GF

By Doug Barrett Jan 8, 2024 | 7:44 AM

Grand Forks forestry officials have tallied up the number of trees removed this past year due to Dutch elm disease. Park officials eliminated 150 diseased trees compared to 118 in 2022.

The largest concentration were elms on the UND campus and near the river bottom.

The number of trees identified with Dutch elm has held steady in recent years – falling well short of the 1,343 removed in 1992.

Park District Park District Forestry specialist Sean Lee says he anticipates 2024 will see about the same level of activity given the fact that there were few high wind events this past year.  “Trees get damaged and people cut them up and give firewood away and it spreads throughout the city.  If these trees happen to have Dutch elm disease that maybe wasn’t showing yet the chances of spreading it is much greater.  Last summer we didn’t have a lot of wind storms.”

On another front Emerald Ash Borer which has been discovered in Moorhead and Dilworth has not crossed the river into Fargo. Lee says only time will tell how far it travels this year.

Dutch elm was first identified in Grand Forks back in 1979.

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