3 years later, Boulder showing clear signs of emerald ash borer infestation

BOULDER — The idyllic vision of a college campus is one marked and shaded by mature, historic trees – many of which are as old as the school itself. High school juniors who toured the University of Colorado’s Williams Village in 2014 saw a campus that met that criteria.

Those same students moved in surrounded by a markedly different landscape in Williams Village this fall.

Once lined by a grove of mature, 30-foot-tall ash trees, the west side of the village along 30th Street is now tree-less. The emerald ash borer (EAB) is to blame.

Just three years after the invasive pest was discovered in Boulder, the city is now starting to see the clear impact, losing hundreds of untreated ash trees to the infestation.

RELATED: Live in Denver? Find out if you have an ash tree vulnerable to EAB

Recently City Forester Kathleen Alexander of Boulder Forestry developed tours open to other municipalities and interest groups allowing a unique in-person opportunity to see the destruction caused by the small green beetle.

The City and County of Denver was one of many Colorado municipalities willing to take advantage of sending leadership to this valuable and very visual learning opportunity provided by the City of Boulder.

RELATED: Looking to protect your Denver ash tree from EAB? Look into your options