Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive wood-boring beetle that feeds on Ash trees and can kill a healthy tree in 2 to 5 years.  With the first confirmed detection of EAB in Cloquet in April of 2022, it is important that steps are taken to mitigate the spread and destruction that this pest creates. 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has sponsored a number of grants targeted at addressing EAB and in the fall of 2023, city staff applied for, and were awarded, a grant in the amount of $427,500.  Along with certified contractors, staff are targeting the removal of 200 trees and will replant as many as 240 trees.  This work will primarily address boulevard trees, those that are in the road right-of-way, and some trees in city parks. 

Trees are a resource that offer many benefits to our community, from shade and shelter to providing clean air and absorbing rain runoff.  These are benefits recognized and valued regionally, which is why the city is partnering with staff from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District. 

The comprehensive approach that will be taken involves completing an inventory of all public trees by identifying species and evaluating tree health.  A management plan will be developed to target trees for removal and identify new, more diverse and resilient tree species to plant.  This process is beginning in 2024 and the grant funding will provide for removals and plantings through 2026.  

Private Ash Trees

Property owners should understand that if they have Ash Trees, the time is now to determine how to best address the risks of the Emerald Ash Borer. Tree care professionals are able to assess trees to determine if they are good candidates for treatment or if removal would be better. If trees are not treated, all remaining Ash trees will likely be dead within the next 10 years. Here is a link that will help residents identify what an Ash tree looks like:  https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialanimals/eab/idashtrees.   

There are plenty of local contractors that are capable of removing trees and treating treating trees. At a minimum, we recommend using licensed and insured contractors.  

Based on information from the ReLeaf Grant Administrators, we have determined that non-Ash Tree removal is an approved expense. This will allow us to address many of the safety concerns that were identified by our consultant during the tree inventory. We will focus the tree removals for Phases 2 and 3 on the larger trees that are in poor condition and that require a more technical approach for removal. If residents have questions or would like to see a tree planted in place of one being removed, please contact Joe Hafner by email at jhafner@cloquetmn.gov or by phone at (218)879-6758.

Check out the links below for more information and come back to this page for project updates.

Project updates:
January 19, 2024 - City of Cloquet News 
January 26, 2024 - Pine Knot News article
April 2024 - Completed phase 1 of Ash tree removals
September 2024 - Marked Ash tees with green ribbon
September 27, 2024 - Pine Knot News article published 
October 2024 - Completed Public Tree Inventory work and staff training 
December 2024 - Completed Urban Forestry Management Plan and Woodland Stewardship Plan
June 2025 - Pine Knot News Article: Emerald Ash Borer Spreads in County  
August 2025 - Phase 2 tree removals completed (Sawtooth removed 76 trees)
September 26, 2025 - Pine Knot New Article: New Ash Tree Treatment 
September 2025 - Phase 1 tree planting completed (Hoffbauer Tree Farm planted 42 Trees) 
September 2025 - Phase 1 Ash treatments completed (Levy Tree Care treated 58 Ash Trees)

Upcoming Project Tasks: 
Phase 2 and 3 tree planting by November 2026 

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has an extensive gathering of resources and information regarding Emerald Ash Borer, visit their website at https://www.mda.state.mn.us/eab. 

View the EAB Quarantine Map

If homeowners want to plan ahead and get trees planted to replace the Ash trees that may be lost, the following link to the University of Minnesota Extension has information on how to select a new tree species.

This brochure from the Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District is also a great resource.