Prince Albert trees remain Dutch Elm Disease free

“Our primary goal is to protect the City’s elm population and prevent the introduction or spread of DED, while working cooperatively with residents wherever possible,” City Parks and Open Spaces Manager Tim Yeaman in a statement.

That isn’t to say the disease has been completely absent from the city.

DED is spread by the Elm bark beetle, which is particularly attracted to freshly pruned/cut elm trees. That means they often find their way into wood cut for firewood, which is why storing or transporting elm wood for firewood is illegal year-round in Saskatchewan.

This year, 47 violations were found in the city, 31 of which were all found at the same residential property. Violations included storage of elm firewood, elm trees that had been removed, and high stumps left from tree removals.

“The cleanup at one property required an entire day for a city crew, while the remaining violations were addressed within approximately three days.”

If elm wood is found illegally on someone’s property, it’s confiscated and disposed of, and penalties for illegal elm storage can be as high as several thousand-dollar fines depending on the amount of wood found and the type of property.

Yeaman said in his statement that the City typically takes a more educational approach to dealing with elm storage.

“In many of our interactions, we have found that residents are simply unaware of the regulations surrounding elm firewood, may not know how to identify an elm tree, or may not understand the reasons behind the restrictions on elm pruning during certain times of the year. This provides us with an opportunity to educate residents on the importance of these regulations and help them understand their role in preventing the introduction and spread of Dutch Elm Disease.”

Since 2019, a total of 33 trees have been identified that were showing symptoms of DED, and all of them have had samples sent to the Provincial Crop Protection Laboratory in Regina. Only one tree has come back with a positive result back in 2023.

Also, since 2019, a total of 234 DED violations have been identified, 90 per cent of which related to the illegal storage of elm firewood.

The ban on pruning elm trees is placed yearly, and runs from April 1 until Aug. 31.

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nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com

by Nick Nielsen

Prince Albert trees remain Dutch Elm Disease free

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