By Edward Jones
Linnton’s tiny Kingsley Park (1.1 acre) is dominated by four ash trees. As imposing as they look, they are all at risk of infestation and death at the hands (claws? mandibles?) of the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect from Asia which has recently turned up in Oregon.
According to Wikipedia, over the last twenty years Emerald Ash Borers have spread across the U.S. and killed tens of millions of trees in twenty-two states. But until 2022 they hadn’t threatened any trees in Oregon.
That year an infestation was found in Forest Grove and then, in August of 2024 traps revealed that the metallic-green beetles, about a half-inch long, have appeared in Marion, Yamhill and Clackamas counties, miles from that first discovery in Forest Grove.
In Europe, where the beetles are also spreading, they have moved roughly twenty-five miles a year, so that makes Linnton practically the next in line.
Worst of all, there doesn’t seem to be much that can be done to save the trees. There has been attention paid by the city and the state, and much information is available about recognizing the bugs when they appear, but most of the effort so far has been focused on containment.
It may not be possible to save our trees. The recommendation from the state is that we start replacing them now but Portland hasn’t committed to that. Once infested the trees can die in just a few years, so there isn’t much time to get replacements in the ground.