Clint Budd / CC
A grant request for $15,000 was approved on Tuesday by the Planning, Resources, Agriculture & Extension Committee of the Sheboygan County Board, paving the way for an innovative project that will eventually replace ash trees in 9 City parks. That word came from Aaron Brault, Director of the Sheboygan County Planning & Conservation Department.
The grant, contingent upon at least a 50% match – which reportedly has already been secured – will replace about 100 ash trees that fell victim to the Emerald Ash Borer that is decimating ash tree populations in 58 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. The project is a collaboration between the ROOTS (Restoration Of Our Trees Sheboygan) initiative of the Rotary Club of Sheboygan/Sheboygan County Rotary Foundation and the City of Sheboygan.
One component of the project now funded involves the establishment of a Bare Root Accelerated Growth System, also known as “BRAGS”. With BRAGS, a gravel bed system is used to raise bareroot tree stock, which can be purchased in spring for a lower cost compared to potted or burlapped trees. The saplings are raised in the gravel bed, developing a healthy and extensive root system. The trees are then more easily and effectively transplanted at a future date.
According to Brault, the project should be a low-cost solution to help combat the canopy loss due to the Emerald Ash Borer, and it’s expected to be up and running sometime this fall.
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