Ash Management Guide for Private Forest Landowners

Chapter 7Other Implicationsof EAB and Ash TreesThe result of anemerald ash borerinvasionPhoto: Di BedardWildfire, EAB, and AshThe Emerald Ash Borer’s Effectson Wildfire PotentialAsh mortality may result in increasedpotential for wildfire during the earlyspring and late fall months when theherbaceous vegetation is dry. Ash speciesare generally associated with vegetationcommunities that are considered to befire resistant except during periods ofextended drought. Therefore, in those areaswhere ash grows in association withother tree species, such as in northernhardwood stands or in mixed balm ofGilead/white cedar/red maple lowlandsthere will be little noticeable change infire potential when the EAB invades foreststands and kills ash trees.Standing snag trees will lose theirbark and shed branches within a fewyears, minimizing fire hazard. Coarsewoody debris will decompose quicklyand become punky (soft and crumbly),keeping fuel moisture at levels too highto support efficient combustion. Othertree species will quickly fill in the gapsleft where ash once grew, as was the casewhen the American elm component waslost in these stands 30 to 40 years ago.The situation could be different in purelowland black ash stands where typicallya brush understory is lacking and grassesand sedges dominate the herbaceouslayer. Since these ash types are considereda climax community, recruitmentof other potential overstory species maybe delayed. The existing herbaceous layerwill respond to increased sunlight andwill likely increase in density and mass.Wind exposure will also increase as theoverstory declines.GLOSSARYsnag: A standing, generally unmerchantabledead tree fromwhich the leaves and most ofthe branches have fallen.punky: Soft, crumblydecayed wood that hasbeen attacked by fungus,sometimes used as tinder.57