Forestry Division

Brad Fink
Director of Public Works
E-mail: bfink@wauconda-il.gov

Chris Esvang
Village Arborist
E-mail: cesvang@wauconda-il.gov

302 Slocum Lake Road
Phone: 847-526-9610
Fax: 847-526-2571

 

From the Forestry DivisionTree City USA

The Forestry Division is operated under the direction of the Village of Wauconda’s Public Works Department – Streets and Collections Division.  Forestry maintains over 4,500 trees on Village property or along the Village right of way.  In addition, Village residents can receive advice about their own trees from our Certified Arborist.

Since 2006, the Village of Wauconda is proud to have received the Tree City USA award from The National Arbor Day Foundation. This award recognizes communities that effectively manage their public tree resources, and meet the standards that are set by the National Arbor Day Foundation, the USDA Forest Service, and the National Association of State Foresters.

2013 Parkway Tree Planting Program

In order to continue the Village’s ongoing effort to increase the number of trees within the Village, the Public Works Department has arranged a Parkway Tree Planting Program in cooperation with Acres Nursery.

This program allows residents to purchase trees for placement within the public right-of-way at a reduced cost. Specific information about the Village’s 2013 Program will be announced soon.

 

2013 Village Brush Pick-up Schedule

The Village will conduct two Village-wide residential brush collection events in 2013. Please note that brush pick-up will be performed for all residents in the Village during the weeks of May 20th and October 28th.

 

General Brush Pick-Up Guidelines:

- Twigs and branches must be no larger than 4 inches in diameter.
- All brush must be stacked in the same direction when placed curbside.
- Bundles should not be bagged or tied.

Brush must be placed at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on Monday, May 20th for the May collection and no later than 7:00 a.m. on Monday, October 28th for the October collection. Crews will work all week long to remove brush throughout the Village. Once crews pass your home, they will not come back.

Residents who need additional brush pick-up services throughout the growing season will be able to contact our contractor, Kramer Tree Specialists directly to request the service. Once twenty Village residents sign up for this additional service, a pick-up will be scheduled.

Residents requesting this service will be allowed one pile of brush (up to 5′ x 10′ x 6′) for collection, and will be required to pay a pick-up fee in advance, directly to Kramer Tree Specialists.

 

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

Ash Tree Population is Threatened On January 28th, 2011, the Village of Wauconda discovered the presence of the highly destructive insect known as the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).  The Emerald Ash Borer is a small, metallic green, non-native invasive pest whose larvae feast on the trunks of ash trees, ultimately disrupting their ability to transport nutrients and causing the tree’s eventual decline and death.  The EAB infestation in Wauconda was discovered near Route 176 and Route 12 when ash trees were discovered with symptoms of the infestation.

While the EAB does not pose any health risk, it does threaten our ash tree population. The Illinois Department of Agriculture is the lead agency in creating policy related to the EAB.  The Department’s primary efforts are targeted at slowing the spread of the disease throughout the state.  The only effective method of stopping the spread of the pest is to remove and destroy all infested ash trees in an area.  The Village of Wauconda will remove ash trees on public property after positive confirmation of the EAB, or as they begin to decline.  Tree removals have begun in the Village as a way to help stop the spread of the pest.

Please help us combat the EAB infestation by doing the following:

  1. Inspect all ash trees on your property and look for symptoms of EAB.
  2. If you suspect that EAB has infested your tree, contact the Public Works Department at 847-526-9610.
  3. For more information, go to www.emeraldashborer.info or www.IllinoisEAB.com (an Illinois Department of Agriculture maintained web page).
  4. Do not move firewood.  EAB can easily be transported in firewood.

You may remove infested ash tree during this time, but do not cut down your ash trees during ‘flight season’ for EAB (May  1st- September 30th).  Removing the trees during flight season increases the risk of spreading EAB.  If you employ a landscape service, please ensure that they are aware of the infestation and please help us ensure that the removal is in compliance with the current IL Dept. of Agriculture’s regulations for infected trees.

Other Pests

Japanese Beetles Japanese beetles are brightly colored insects that appear in gardens and landscapes in our area in early summer. They have metallic green bodies, copper-colored wing covers, and tufts of white hairs. CLICK HERE to see photos of this beetle, and to learn more about how to control this destructive pest.

Tree Trimming

Parkway Tree Maintenance

All parkway trees within the Village are scheduled to be trimmed on a five year cycle.  If branches are broken, dead, or low-hanging please report them to the Public Works Department at (847) 526-9610 or CLICK HERE to complete electronically submit a request for service.

Path Clearance & Safety

Village Requirements

Village ordinance requires owners of trees or shrubs shall prune the landscaping so that branches shall not interfere with the safe use of street or sidewalk or obstruct the view of any street intersection.  Minimum clearance is 10 feet over walkways and 15 feet over roadways.  The Village shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property when it interferes with the safe use of the street or sidewalk or with the visibility of any traffic control device or sign.