The removal of 11 infested ash trees on CU Boulder’s East Campus along the east side of 30th Street is slated to occur the week of Aug. 6.
The trees are among the hundreds locally that are infested by emerald ash borer, a small insect that began ravaging ash trees in the city of Boulder earlier this decade. The tree row being removed runs from Marine Street south along 30th, to the west of Research Laboratories 1 and 2. CU Boulder grounds officials will work with a local contractor on the removal operations.
Removal operations for the trees along 30th Street will require significant traffic-control setup, including the closure of one northbound lane of 30th. CU Boulder’s contractor will work with the city of Boulder to ensure proper signage and other traffic-control measures are in place.
While some of these trees slated for removal are in earlier stages of infestation, all but one were chosen due to their proximity to power lines that run along the same stretch. Those 10 ash trees have been systematically pruned for utility clearance for decades. Such pruning, over the long term, leads to poor structure that causes increased susceptibility to damage from heavy snow loads and wind, causing safety issues along both 30th Street and the nearby sidewalk.
In addition to the 10 trees beneath power lines, one heavily infested ash tree just east of 30th along Marine Street will be included in next week’s removals.
Ten additional ash trees in the same row that are farther to the south, beyond where the power lines cross over to the west side of 30th Street, are being treated against emerald ash borer in an attempt to preserve them rather than remove them.
Planning is occurring for future improvement of the area and what types of trees might be added following the removal of the infested ash trees.
