Posted at: 11/04/2009 8:13 PM
By: Becky Nahm

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Blocks of Trees Sawed Down to the Stump in St. Paul

Crews took a chainsaw to three dozen beloved trees in St. Paul's Como Park neighborhood Wednesday. Now all that's left along two blocks of California Avenue is a row of stumps. But the destruction has a purpose.

The trees were all ash trees, and all were susceptible to the emerald ash borer.

The City of St. Paul chose to cut down the trees in an attempt to prevent the spread of the insect.

The bugs have not yet reached California Avenue. But the city said they are not far away.

Natural Resources Technician Rachel Coyle said, "It won't be long before it's throughout the city. So we're trying to be a little proactive in removing some declining ash trees."

The city said the trees that were cut down were not healthy enough to be treated with insecticide.

The city will replant different kinds of trees along California Avenue later this week.

Removing and replacing the trees will cost St. Paul about $25,000.