Lots of Trees Being Cut Down

On purpose. Here's an update from the City about their response to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a non-native, invasive wood-boring beetle that feeds on ash trees, eventually killing them.

"In August, as part of its 2026 Goals, City Council adopted an EAB Readiness & Response Plan that focuses on City-owned properties and rights-of-way. This multi-year plan will proactively guide the City in advance of and during an EAB infestation - minimizing the impacts of the loss of ash trees across the city and protecting the public and City staff from ash trees as they become hazardous. This plan follows management strategies - best practices - developed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Forestry and is based on anticipated budget allocations.

This fall and winter, following the EAB Readiness & Response Plan and updated City Tree Code, the City will begin preemptively removing approximately 150 ash trees from City-owned properties including parks, open spaces and facilities. Trees scheduled for removal will be marked with a red "X". The selected ash trees are near homes, utilities, paths or roads and will become hazardous once infested. Pruning and removal of ash trees can only take place in the fall and winter months when adult EAB are dormant.

At this time, ash tree removals are planned for the following areas:

Potential Locations
Ball Creek		Southwood 2
Bay Creek		Southwood Open Space
Boones Ferry 1		Southwood Park
Boones Ferry 5		Suncreek Open Space
Cascara North		W Waluga Park
Deerfield		Westlake Park
Foothills Park		Woodmont Park
Pennington Park		Adult Community Center
Royal Oaks		City Hall

Parks crews are in the process of walking through each area to determine the number of ash trees that need to be removed. The exact number of trees will be dependent on budget allocations. Some locations may be deferred until next year.  A map of these locations will be available on the EAB website within the next two weeks. I will send updates as these removals begin.

This is a multi-year project that will address trees in parks, natural areas, and eventually in public rights-of-way. Due to the scale of impact, tree removals will be staggered and paired with chemical treatment (injections) to limit large-scale canopy loss and prevent a surge of hazardous trees. In addition to removing trees, the City will actively replant new trees to restore and sustain the tree canopy for the future.

There will be continued citywide communications and outreach through physical signage, city communications channels (social media, newsletters, website), and direct outreach to our Neighborhood Associations, Watershed Councils, and Friends Groups. Please share this information and upcoming updates with your networks.

For more information about EAB, ash tree removal and locations, and what private property owners can do if they have ash trees on their property, please visit www.lakeoswego.city/EAB.

For information on the City’s Tree Code update, visit www.lakeoswego.city/boc_pc/lu-26-0014-tree-code-amendments. Updates to the City's Tree Code are expected to go into effect in October and include updates to respond to EAB."