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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 <br />COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<h2 style="font-size: 150%;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</h2>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">November 21, 2019</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Steve Fritz
<br />City Arborist
<br />Community Development Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7474</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h3 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">City receives grant to respond to invasive species of tree beetles</h3>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has awarded the City of Columbia and the Columbia Tree Board a $10,000 Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) grant. The purpose of the grant is to provide education and outreach on the City’s efforts to protect its ash trees against an emerald ash borer infestation. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive species of beetle that feeds on ash trees and ultimately kills them. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MDC has reported the discovery of the beetle in Boone County including parts of Columbia. Columbia Parks and Recreation has also found signs of the beetle while removing a tree in Paquin Park.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A concentration of ash trees has been identified in a southwest neighborhood along Grant Lane in the City’s right of way that could be vulnerable. The City arborist plans to begin treatment of the ash trees in order to protect them from the beetle. Any trees that pose a threat to other ash trees or to public safety due to deterioration would potentially be removed.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Grant Lane is lined with ash trees which make up approximately one-third of the street trees in this area," </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">City of Columbia Arborist Steve Fritz said. ""A majority of the trees in this neighborhood are currently in fair to excellent condition so we’d like to do what we can to preserve them for as long as we are able."</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The City arborist will be working to inform the public of the City’s actions to mitigate any infestation and to educate the public on what community members can do to manage their own ash trees. Columbia’s newly established Tree Board will be presented with possible management strategies and outreach opportunities to deal with the emerald ash borer beginning with a public outreach campaign. Outreach will include workshops for the public, an advertising campaign, partnerships with local school groups and an information portal within the City’s website. The grant will also fund the updating of the City’s inventory data on ash trees, which was last updated in 2014 by Columbia Public Works. This updated inventory will be used for management decisions outlined in the City’s Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The TRIM grant is for $10,000 with an additional </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">$4,880</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in kind contribution from the City, which was approved at the City Council meeting on Nov. 18 (Council Bill 334-19).</span></p>
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<p><strong>Additional Resources:</strong></p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://mdc.mo.gov/property/community-conservation/community-conservation-funding-opportunities/tree-resource"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Missouri Department of Conservation: TRIM Grant</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://mdc.mo.gov/wildlife/nuisance-problem-species/invasive-species/emerald-ash-borer-management"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Missouri Department of Conservation: EAB Management</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://agriculture.mo.gov/plants/pests/emeraldash.php"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Missouri Department of Agriculture: Infestation Map of Missouri counties</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://extension2.missouri.edu/programs/tree-pests"><span style="font-weight: 400;">MU Extension: Missouri Invasive Forest Pest Council</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.como.gov/community-development/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2018/05/Final-Columbia-Master-Plan.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">City of Columbia: </span></a><a href="https://www.como.gov/community-development/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2018/05/Final-Columbia-Master-Plan.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Urban Forest Master Plan</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://gis.davey.com/storymap/columbiamo/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">City of Columbia: Urban Forest Story Map</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.como.gov/community-development/bsd/city-arborist/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">City of Columbia: City Arborist</span></a></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.como.gov/CMS/webcal/event.php?id=10672">Council Bill 334-19</a></span></li>
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