12°c Overcast
17°c Cloudy with showers
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
City at risk of losing elm canopy
Elm canopy covers Wolseley in March, 2012. ( MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store
Winnipeg is at risk of losing its elm tree canopy if the city continues to lose two per cent of its trees every year, according to a new report.
A City of Winnipeg administrative report, released this morning, said Winnipeg may no longer be able to effectively manage Dutch Elm disease if it continues to lose two per cent of its trees every year. If this occurs, Winnipeg may lose its elm canopy, resulting in higher costs of tree planting and removal.
Winnipeg's boulevard and park American elm trees are estimated to be worth more than $806 million, according to the report.
The report recommends Winnipeg enact a new strategy to combat the disease, which includes asking the province to re-instate buffer zones in the municipalities of Richot and Springfield and split the $1.9-million cost of additional tree planting, removal and Elm bark beetle control.
Council's public works committee will consider the strategy at a meeting next week.
Earlier this year, council's public works committee asked Winnipeg's public administration to develop a strategy to protect city elm trees amid concerns about the spread of Dutch elm disease. Advocates told city officials they worry the city's elm tree canopy could collapse if Winnipeg does not spend more money on planting and pruning to protect it from the disease.
Before Dutch elm disease was first detected in Winnipeg in 1975, the city had about 275,000 elm trees. Currently, the report said there's an estimated 140,000 elm trees in Winnipeg.
The report said Winnipeg maintains the largest population of elm trees in North America and has the most successful program to combat Dutch elm disease.
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Teachers vote to donate $1.5M to human rights museum
05/24/2013 9:17 PM 0Manitoba public school teachers have voted to donate $1.5 million to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in return for ...
Poll
Most Popular Local
- City's first urban reserve born
- Woman drove into river on purpose
- City set to seize derelict hotel
- Crash victims were good friends, free spirits
- Accused fraudster fights extradition to U.S.
- Doctor charged with sexually assaulting teen at HSC
- Evidence ignored in dangerous driving acquital, appeal court told
- Police searching for suspect who woke sleeping teen
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Witness changes story of killing
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Crash claims two young women, RCMP say
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Police identify slaying victims
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- City's first urban reserve born
- The end of the credit card?
- Woman drove into river on purpose
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- City's first urban reserve born
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- Better PTSD treatment for RCMP urged
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Armed forces buys buses from Motor Coach
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Accused fraudster fights extradition to U.S.
- City chiropractor guilty of beating, sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend
- Crash victims were good friends, free spirits
- Athletes could sit under new school rules
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Fishing for fashion
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Core grocer a challenge: expert
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- City's first urban reserve born
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- City chiropractor guilty of beating, sexually assaulting ex-girlfriend
- First Nation celebrates groundbreaking on city's first urban reserve
- North End proud
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- A child-custody catastrophe
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.