Category: Natural environment

LDD moth egg mass removal: Information session & call for volunteers

QTNca’s Natural Environment committee will be hosting an information session on the Lymantria dispar dispar (LDD, i.e. European Gypsy Moth) egg mass removal and is also calling for volunteers to help remove egg masses throughout the community. See below for more information on these events!

UPDATED – Information session on egg mass removal – Nov 6 @ 2:00 PM

This short session on how to remove LDD egg masses will take place on Arkell Street during the weekend on November 6 @ 2:00 PM, weather dependent. Removing egg masses now is a way to reduce the number of caterpillars that will hatch in the spring. If you are interested in this session or missed it and are still interested, please email nature.qtn@gmail.com to get the details.

We encourage you to attend the session to learn how you can remove the egg mass from your property. Want to learn more about the LDD and what the City of Ottawa is doing, click here: https://ottawa.ca/en/living-ottawa/environment-conservation-and-climate/trees-and-urban-forests/tree-and-forest-health/gypsy-moths#current-status

Call for volunteers to remove egg masses – Anytime you’re free!

We are looking for volunteers to assist in the removal of LDD egg masses from trees in Frank Ryan Park and Elmhurst Park. Safety first: Egg masses within arm’s reach will be targeted. Those who volunteer will be asked to attend our information session on how to safely remove the egg masses. The removal will be done on your own schedule. Special call for those in need of volunteering hours for high school or other requirements. If you are interested, please email nature.qtn@gmail.com for more information.

Funding available for Ash Tree Replacement on private properties

ash trees and the sky

Funding is still available for 2021 and interested applicants are encouraged to visit the City’s program website at nation.on.ca/eab. Additional details on this program were shared recently on Coun. Kavanagh’s Bay Ward Bulletin:

The City of Ottawa has lost thousands of ash trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This invasive beetle, native to Asia was first detected in North America in 2002. It has since killed tens of millions of ash trees and continues to spread, causing considerable economic and ecological damage.

Starting summer 2019, the City of Ottawa will be shifting to inject ash trees every 2 years (ash trees were previously injected every year). This approach is in line with researched best practices for tree injections and is supported by monitoring of declining emerald ash borer populations. There is no action required on the part of residents. Questions can be directed to 3-1-1.

Private Property Ash Tree Replacement Program

The City of Ottawa has lost thousands of ash trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This invasive beetle, native to Asia, was first detected in North America in 2002 and has since killed tens of millions of ash trees and continues to spread, causing considerable economic and ecological damage. As a result, many private property owners are left with dead or dying ash trees. To address this, South Nation Conservation (SNC) has once again partnered with the City of Ottawa to help curb the spread of the invasive EAB across Canada’s capital.

First launched in 2018, the Ash Tree Replacement Program has approved over $575,227 in cost-share grants to property owners to help remove and replace 1,846 infected ash trees with locally sourced native species. Eligible applicants agree to use a forestry professional to confirm and remove infected ash trees and to replace them with suitable native trees.

Funding is still available for 2021 and interested applicants are encouraged to visit our program website at nation.on.ca/eab or to contact SNC for eligibility details.

Fall clean-up (Sept 25) & updates on trees in Frank Ryan and Elmhurst parks

Fall clean-up event
Come help clean up our neighbourhood. We will be cleaning our parks, greenspaces, and surrounding areas. Meet us at Frank Ryan Field House on Saturday, September 25, 2021 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM to get supplies and choose an area to clean. Latex gloves and garbage bags will be provided. In the event of rain, we will reschedule to Sunday, September 26, 2021.

You can add this event to your calendar by subscribing to our Google Calendar or to our Facebook Page. Regular updates are also shared with the local community Facebook Group – a good place to chat and meet your neighbours.

Update – Evergreen tree proposal at Frank Ryan
The City has reviewed our request for evergreen trees to be added to Frank Ryan Park to help shield the rink from the north wind. Upon consideration of other park usage and operations, the City is planning to add two White Pine trees northwest of the rink. Because of the equipment used during the annual rink installation, particularly the need for a boom truck to install the lights, it will not be possible to get trees installed directly north of the rink. Two hackberry trees will also be planted between the gazebo and the basketball court. Two replacement trees will be planted along Stuart Kettles St. parking lot, one hackberry and one honey locus. The work is scheduled to take place this fall. If you have any comments on this work plan or have ideas for additional planting in QTN please let us know at nature.qtn@gmail.com.

Update – Removal of Dead Wood in Elmhurst Forest
Removal of dead wood took place throughout the summer and the work is nearing completion. The City has informed us that they plan on substituting the former gatepost at the Elmhurst entrance with large rocks once they have completed the tree removal and clean-up. On your next walk, look for the snags that were left standing from the latest tree cutting event. They will help provide a variety of habitats for the Elmhurst wildlife (new and older snag photos provided).

Additional Information to keep QTN clean!