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EMERALD ASH BORER DETECTED FLOOD INSURANCE MAPPING Provided by Whitney Cranshaw, Extension Entomologist, ] he City of Louisville participates in the National Colorado State University Extension Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).The NFIP makes federally backed flood insurance available for all buildings, You may have heard, the Colorado Department of Agri whether they are in a designated floodplain or not. Flood in- culture (CDA) announced the emerald ash borer (EAB) has surance covers direct losses caused by surface flooding, due to been confirmed in Boulder. either a creek overflowing its banks or a local drainage event. If you are not aware of EAB, it is arguably the most dev Areas within the City which would be subject to surface astating invasive insect to have breached the North American flooding during a 100 year storm event are depicted on a shores in many decades. Since its accidental introduction into Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM).The area of flooding is Michigan and detection in 2002 it has spread across much of defined as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).The FIRM is the eastern half of the US and Canada killing tens of mil printed periodically by the Federal Emergency Management lions of ash trees. There is every reason to believe it will likely Agency(FEMA) and made available to the local map reposi- eliminate essentially every ash tree where the insect is present, tory for distribution to the public. In the case of Louisville, causing extraordinary ecological and economic damage.All there are a series of FIRM maps which cover the City The species of ash trees native to North America are susceptible, Planning Department is the local repository for these map- including the very widely planted green and white ash used as ping resources. street trees in Colorado. As a resident or business owner in Louisville, if you would The CDA and Federal agencies involved in tracking exotic like to review a map to evaluate the location of a SFHA in insects are working to determine the extent of the present relation to a specific property you may visit the Planning infestation.We can hope that it is limited to the single site, Department located at 749 Main Street.You may also contact but expect a greatly intensified effort in the upcoming year to the Planning Department by phone (303.335.4592) or e-mail limit the current range of EAB in Colorado. (Planning@LouisvilleCO.gov) if you would like the Depart- You will hear what plans there are to help slow the spread ment to make a determination as to the flood zone in which in Colorado.Although eradication is not possible, aggressive a property is located.Additional resources are also available management can greatly slow the rate of tree loss and spread through the Building and Engineering Divisions to assist the of the insect.This can be tremendously helpful in slowing the public in the administration of the City's floodplain regula- rate of tree loss,with its associated costs, and in planning for tions. replacements. (This insect will cost many municipalities mil- lions of dollars over the next decade in expenses related to tree SAVE MONEY ON YOUR COMMUTE removal alone.) There is one important difference in how the EAB may C ave money on play out in Colorado versus the rest of the county. Our ash your commute trees are almost entirely human planted and exist in discrete with the US 36 Com- Commuting Solutions pockets,with significant geographic barriers in many loca- muter Incentive Pro- tions.This can help contain and slow the spread and, perhaps, gram! Significant commuter subsidies and incentives are now even prevent its establishment in some communities if efforts available to help reduce congestion along the US 36 corridor are made to control it. That EAB is in Boulder does mean it during construction: ultimately will spread throughout the northern Front Range. However, outside this region EAB will only move with human Vanpool—$160 toward the first three months of assistance. Therefore areas such as Colorado Springs, Pueblo your vanpool participation! —and everywhere west of the Continental Divide,will not be Transit- FREE RTD 10-Ride Ticketbooks valued at colonized by EAB without separate introductions by humans. $45 each! (The beetles are carried on infested ash logs.) EAB controls should only be used in communities where Telework—FREE quarterly trainings and$2,500 EAB is known to be present.At this point it is only known available to help implement telework programs at from Boulder. Until the insect is found in other specific areas, your workplace! EAB controls should not be used. For more information on the subsidies and how For more information, please contact City Forester Chris to apply,visit 36commutingsolutions.org, e-mail Lichty at ChrisL@LouisvilleCO.gov or 303.335.4733. info@36commutingsolutions.org or call 303-604-4383. Winter 2013 6