Here's why more than 60 trees will be removed in Menomonee Falls this year

VILLAGE OF MENOMONEE FALLS - More than 60 public trees will come down this year as part of a new village plan to fight invasive species. 

Wisconsin is one of several states infected by the emerald ash borer, an Asian jewel beetle that feeds on North American ash trees. It was first detected in Southeastern Wisconsin in 2008.

The species' presence was confirmed in Menomonee Falls in March 2016. Then village staff teamed up with Wachtel Tree Science to create an inventory of public trees and a five-year treatment plan for infected ones.

That work will be financed with $21,504.74 in matching grant funds from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Arlyn Johnson, director of Menomonee Falls' public works department, said they're waiting for the money to be reimbursed now that the plan is done. 

Over the plan's five years, Johnson said, a total of 1,064 public ash trees should be addressed. 859 are recommended for removal, while 205 can be treated. 

The planned removal schedule is 66 trees gone by this spring, 268 gone by spring 2020 and then 175 removed annually from 2021 to 2023. 

Afterward, Wachtel is recommending that the trees will be replanted in a way that increases tree species diversity.

"A realistic number of appropriate replanting sites are set at 600," said the treatment plan. "Based on available funding, the planting of replacement trees may have to be spread out over multiple years beyond the five-year plan."

It's not yet determined whether the replantings should be done by village staff or contracted out, which could help with time constraints. If the plan mainly relies on village staff services, it's slated to cost $473,964 for the five years. 

If most of the plan's services are contracted out, the village is looking at a cost of $834,215 over five years. Johnson said choices of what plan to choose, and where the money will come from, will be discussed at upcoming village meetings.

"The village intends to use multiple funding options for implementation of our management plan objectives ... a portion of the funding will come from the (village's) general fund." he said in an email. "However, our intent is to use all of the funding options available, including any available grant funding opportunities."

For the trees being torn down this year, Johnson said at least 15 of their replacements will be covered by a $5,000 Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission grant that the village recently received.

The plan also identifies 205 public trees that are infected but don't need to be taken down. They will receive alternate year chemical treatments, with half of the group starting this year and the other half starting in 2020.