WBAY-TV Green Bay-Fox Cities-Northeast Wisconsin News: Ash Borer Impact Could Be Wide

Ash Borer Impact Could Be Wide

By Jeff Alexander

Higher utility bills and a loss in property values.  City foresters say that could be just some of the effects tied to the recent discovery of a tree-killing beetle in Green Bay. 

In fact, they expect the Emerald Ash Borer will wipeout the majority of Ash trees in most northeast Wisconsin neighborhoods.  On Vista Circle in De Pere, Ash trees are king.

"When some of these subdivisions were put in you had like four different trees that were put in and one of the main trees were Ash trees," said Don Melichar, the De Pere City Forester.  "So a lot of people have them both on the street and in their backyard and their front yards."

But now residents worry this little bug is about to change the way their neighborhoods look.

"It would be sad yes," said Gerald Willems of De Pere.  "I like the shade when the sun comes out and I like the looks of the trees."

"We were looking at building and you can't build and have these big trees so that's why we bought this house," said Sheri Liebergen of De Pere.

If the Emerald Ash Borer takes hold in the coming years as expected, Melichar says it will impact more than just a neighborhood's beauty.

"There's gonna be a lot more sun in these areas," said Melichar.  "Some of the utility bills are gonna go up.  It changes storm water runoff and the whole works.  So there will be a big difference is some of these neighborhoods."

Homeowners like Liebergen also worry property values would plummet as trees die off.

"I'm sure they would go down because it would be like, it would be empty," said Liebergen.

"Some of the lots people pay for with trees on are maybe twice as much as ones without," said Melichar.