Fight against the emerald ash borer

The emerald ash borer is an insect originally from Southeast Asia that attacks ash trees. In Pointe-Claire, more than 8,000 ash trees on public and private land are at risk.

 

Identifying ash trees

  • Compound leaves consist of an odd number of leaflets, between 5 and 9.
  • Young ash trees have smooth reddish bark.
  • Mature ash trees have a bark consisting of a regular pattern of furrows.


Inspecting ash trees

  • The insect, usually a metallic emerald green colour, is 8 to 15 millimetres long.
  • The borer can be seen on the crown of trees, especially on leaves exposed to the sun, from mid-May to late July.
  • The larvae live in the bark of ash trees. It bores S-shaped tunnels.

Signs of infestation

  • D-shaped holes in the bark.
  • S-shaped tunnels under the bark.
  • Yellowing leaves, branch die-off and opening of the crown.
  • Suckers sprouting from the trunk.
  • Presence of woodpecker holes

Strategy to battle ash borers

In September 2015, City Council adopted the first strategy to battle emerald ash borers, preserve the urban forest, maintain the canopy and protect biodiversity.

Objectives of the strategy:

  • Slow ash mortality;
  • Reduce the costs generated by loss of ash trees;
  • Ensure everyone’s safety;
  • Maintain the canopy;
  • Protect biodiversity.

Strategy to fight the emerald ash borer

 

By-law

For the complete By-law on emerald ash borers, go to the By-laws page.

 

Treatment and felling on public land

In August 2015, 4,000 ash trees were inventoried on public land, divided into three categories.

Category Number of ash trees
Ash trees treated in even-numbered years 800 (20%)
2014: 500 ash trees treated
2016: 300 more ash trees will be treated
Ash trees treated in odd-numbered years 600 (15%)
2015: 600 ash trees treated
Ash trees not treated 2,600 (65%)

The treatment strategy on public land covers ash trees located in parks and alongside streets.

Treatment with TreeAzin preserves the ash trees while new trees are planted or another protective measure is found. The strategy is revised and adapted based on new knowledge and treatments.

Some 325 ash trees will be felled each year until 2021. Felling of untreatable ash trees on public land will be carried out over eight years, to maintain the maximum level of foliage and based on the risks they pose, while spreading out the costs associated with this operation.

 

What to do with your wood?

It is prohibited to store ash tree residue that has not been processed using a compliant method during pruning and felling, pursuant to By-law PC-2918 Regarding the Fight Against the Spread of the Emerald Ash Borer. Failure to comply with this by-law may result in a fine.

For branches less than 20 cm in diameter:

The branches must be chipped and disposed of at your expense by a private contractor. The resulting woodchips must not exceed 2.5 centimetres on at least two sides.

The City does not accept woodchips at the dump site (Public Works yard).

 

For branches or trunks over 20 cm in diameter:

Wood logs or sections of various lengths must be brought to an authorized treatment site:

For work carried out between October 1 and April 30:

The wood must be brought to the Public Works yard located at 50 Terra-Cotta Avenue. You must first make an appointment by calling 514-630-1230, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Once on site, at the attendant booth, you will have to provide your identification, the felling certificate number and the associated address.

For work carried out between May 1 and September 30:

Wood must be brought to the following authorized sites:

  • Ville de Montréal ecocentres, complying with admission requirements (fees may be charged depending on the quantity of wood):
    See schedules on the following website: http://www1.ville.montreal.qc.ca/banque311/content/%C3%A9cocentres-coordonn%C3%A9es-et-horaires
  • Multi-Recyclage (fees apply)
    140 rue Saulnier, Laval (QC)
    Telephone: 1-888-306-5151
    Monday to Friday: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    Saturday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    Sunday: closed
  • Your contractor may also dispose of the wood by bringing it to another processing site outside the City’s territory.

Grants and special price

Felling grant

A felling grant is available for ash trees with a diameter of 25 centimetres or more as part of the emerald ash borer control strategy.

The owner of a dead ash tree or an ash tree of which 30% of its branches are dead, must fell or have the tree felled.

The grant covers 50% of felling costs, up to a maximum of $500 per tree per year.

Since June 2020, felling is allowed all year-round.

Eligible work

  • Felling of the ash tree(s)
  • Collection and chipping of the branches
  • Collection and disposal of the logs

Non-eligible work

  • Stump removal
  • Pruning
  • Arboriculture work of any kind carried out on trees other than ash trees

How to obtain the grant

  • Fill out a felling permit request.
  • An inspector will visit your property to evaluate the trees that need to be felled and make recommendations. The felling certificate will be sent to you free of charge no later than 30 days after the application is filled.
  • Send the detailed invoice confirming your payment and your contact information (name, address, telephone number) either by e-mail (subventionfrene@pointe-claire.ca), in person at the City Hall multiservice counter or by mail to the following address:
    • Public Works Department
      451 Saint-Jean Boulevard
      Pointe-Claire (Québec) H9R 3J3
  • The invoice must be itemized and must include a cost for the ash tree(s) felling work clearly distinguished from the other arboriculture work carried out. The following information must be included on the invoice:
    • Name of the owner
    • Service address
    • Detailed description of the work carried out
    • Invoice exemple
  • Allow 60 days before receiving the payment.

In order to facilitate the processing of the subsidy, please ask your contractor that the invoice separately identifies the costs for the work of felling eligible ash trees and non-eligible arboriculture work (ex: stump removal).

 

Special rate and grant for treatment

Owners of ash trees that have already been treated against the emerald ash borer will be eligible for a grant for a new treatment, equal to 50% of the cost, up to $1,500 per address. According to current knowledge, it is not recommended to start a new treatment on an infested tree.

The treatment must be applied between June 15 and August 31.

  • Deadline to request an inspection: August 15
  • Deadline to take advantage of the special rate: August 31

To qualify for the grant

  1. 1. If your ash tree(s) have been treated two years ago, the Public Works Department will be inspecting them. If your ash tree(s) were treated last year and you want the treatment for a second consecutive year, contact the Public Works Department at 514 630-1230 to have your ash tree(s) inspected.
  2. 2. If the need for treatment is confirmed, a company selected by the City will apply the treatment at the agreed rate. Any other firm qualified to apply the preventive treatment can be selected, using the same procedure and the same rate.
  3. 3. Send the receipt confirming payment and your contact information (name, address, telephone number) by e-mail (subventionfrene@pointe-claire.ca), in person at the City Hall multiservice counter or by mail at the following address:
    1. Public Works Department
      451 Saint-Jean Boulevard
      Pointe-Claire (Québec) H9R 3J3
  4. 4. Allow 60 days before receiving the payment.

Urban forest renewal

Replacement of ash trees on private property

Any tree felled must be replaced (zoning bylaw, chapter 9). A tree distribution program is available for homeowners. To increase biodiversity, a selection of 10 indigenous tree species will be offered.

Year Number of trees
2016 575
2017 575
2018 575
2019 575
2020 575
2021 575
2022 575

Replacement of ash trees on public land

Each ash on public land in parks or along streets will be replaced, in the same location to the extent possible.

An additional 80 trees will also be planted each year to increase the canopy index.

Replacement plan for ash trees on public land:

Year Trees planted in parks and along streets Ash trees planted in Terra-Cotta Nature Park and other woodlands Total
2016 600 200 800
2017 600 200 800
2018 600 200 800
2019 600 200 800
2020 600 200 800
2021 200 200
2022 200 200

Links and downloads

Information

For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 514-630-1230 or tp@pointe-claire.ca.