Tree Survey Update

The Town of West Newbury is one of the few semi-rural towns left on the North Shore with significant forest land.  The Town is also fortunate to have mature trees along its public roads.

The health of trees along public roads are under stress from drought, road salt, lack of nutrients and, in some areas, rising water table.  During the past three years, in particular, the ash trees in Town have been attacked by the Emerald Ash Borer that eventually kills the tree.  Evidence of this damaging infestation can be seen throughout the Town and on both sides of Route 113.  Additionally, oak trees have been infested with Spongy Moth (formerly gypsy moth).

With funding approved at last spring’s Town Meeting, a survey has recently been completed of all ash trees along public roadways. The 450+ ash trees were categorized as good, fair, poor, and dead. An estimate of the cost for injecting insecticide into ash trees in good or fair condition has been sent to the Town for review.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) has an annual budget to remove dead trees along public roadways but plans to revisit the current 10-year plan to determine if changes are needed in this budget to address the ash tree die-off.  Public roadway trees along Main Street (Route 113) are located on state property and generally not within the jurisdiction of the Town.   

For more information about the ongoing progress of the Town’s efforts to remove

dead trees and the ash tree survey, please contact the Tree Warden, Wayne Amaral, at DPWDirector@WNewbury.org . The ash tree survey and additional information on tree removal is also on the West Newbury Tree Committee web site at: www.wnewbury.org/tree-committee/pages/ash-tree-survey-2022.