The City of Auburn has received a $28,000 grant from the Nebraska Forest Service for a program to remove and replace ash trees within the City of Auburn. The funding is part of the Emerald Ash Borer Removal and Replacement program.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a beetle native to Asia that was introduced to Detroit in 2002. It has destroyed tens of millions of true ash species in over 25 states, including Nebraska. Forests, windbreaks, and urban trees—some 44 million Nebraska ash trees—will be lost in the coming years. The species was confirmed in Nemaha County in 2023.
The City has begun to evaluate ash trees as part of a survey of trees that will identify the condition of ash trees and prioritize those in the poorest condition for removal or removal/ replacement. You may see trees in the right of way marked with a white tape that reads “Ash Tree at Risk Learn more at go.unl.edu/EAB”. The City of Auburn will reach out to homeowners of trees at risk that may be eligible to be removed or removed/replaced as part of this grant program.
