Potential utilization of green ash wood as a result of emerald ash borer proactive management in Thunder Bay, Ontario

Abstract

The emerald ash borer (Agrillus planipennis Fairmaire) (EAB) was discovered in Thunder Bay, Ontario in June, 2016. Since that time, the city of Thunder Bay has implemented a proactive management plan of 50% treatment and 50% removal of urban green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) to hinder the spread of EAB to the surrounding region. As a result, hundreds of city managed green ash are scheduled for removal annually until target levels have been reached. Many of these trees were sent to landfill in 2017, primarily as a result of a quarantine on ash removal from city limits by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Green ash is a high quality hardwood with many advantageous wood properties (similar to white ash (Fraxinus americana)) that can be used for a variety of applications. Some green ash trees cut down off of Court Street were donated by the city of Thunder Bay to the portable milling course at Lakehead University. These trees were milled using a WoodMizer LT40H portable bandsaw mill and data on wood recovery and quality was recorded. One green ash log was milled to produce 82.8 board feet (bf) of one-inch thick lumber (57% wood recovery), which was conservatively estimated to have a value of $293.11. Butt logs were found to contain a large amount of metal nails, which can be damaging to mill equipment and become a safety hazard. These logs can be milled but only after thorough scanning using a metal detector. Considering that one green ash log produced hundreds of dollars worth of high quality ash lumber, an economic opportunity exists for a small business, the city or an individual who is willing to help divert Thunder Bay’s green ash from landfill disposal.