Blue Tree Tags and the Emerald Ash Borer

The exotic emerald ash borer (EAB), native to China, eastern Russia, Japan, and Korea, was first discovered near Detroit in 2002 and has since spread to communities in 30 states, including right here in Franklin Township. The borer affects any trees in the ash tree family that includes green ash (Fraxinus pennslvanica), white ash (F. Americana), black ash (F. nigra), and white fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus). An estimated 99% of trees infested with EAB will die and homeowners should prepare now to remove dead and dying trees before they become a hazard.
In 2018, the Franklin Township Shade Tree Commission secured a Community Stewardship Incentive Program (CSIP) grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Urban and Community Forestry Program to survey trees and to assess the impact of EAB on our local ash tree population.

During the survey, hazardous trees and ash trees within 15 feet from the edge of the pavement on Township right of ways were tagged with blue metal tags. These tags do not indicate that the Township will perform work on these trees; it only indicates they have been GPS (global positioning system) tagged with corresponding information and recorded in a database. The inventory provides the Township with information it needs to develop a tree management plan for Township lands, and to better maintain our valuable street trees.

Residents and businesses with tagged trees on or near their property will be notified by the Township via door tags if they are required to maintain the tree.

The Franklin Township Shade Tree Commission has posted information about EAB on the Emerald Ash Borer Information Page including how to identify ash trees, how to identify EAB damage, information about hiring a certified tree expert to treat or remove your ash trees, and listings of appropriate replacement shade and ornamental trees for our area.

Please help stop the spread of EAB. Know what it looks like, know what the damage looks like, and don't move firewood that can harbor the insect and spread the infestation. In addition to the information at www.franklintwpnj.org/shadetree, more information can be found at https://www.emeraldashborer.nj.gov.