ODNR offering cost-share funding to fight hemlock woolly adelgid

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry is accepting applications for a new cost-share program to help landowners treat hemlock woolly adelgid in their woodlands. Applications will be accepted through Friday, March 20.

The program will provide cost-share funding for treatment of hemlock forest areas from 1 to 25 acres. The payment rate for hemlock woolly adelgid control work is $700 per acre. Treatment may be completed by the landowner or a contractor hired by the landowner.

Program details and the application form are available at OhioDNR.gov/HWA.

Hemlock woolly adelgid is a tiny, non-native invasive insect and is considered a major threat to eastern hemlocks. It is most visible in fall, winter and spring, when it forms small, white, cottony masses on the underside of hemlock twigs. First discovered in the 1950s in Virginia, it has spread across much of the range of eastern hemlock, contributing to the decline and death of millions of trees. The insect was first confirmed in Ohio in 2012 and is now known to occur in 24 counties. Feeding by the insect can deplete a tree’s nutrient reserves, leading to needle discoloration, branch dieback and eventual tree death.

“We are thrilled to be able to assist landowners in protecting their hemlock forests from the damage caused by the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid,” said Dan Balser, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry. “Assisting private landowners with sustainable forest management is critical in Ohio, where the vast majority of forest lands are privately owned.”

ODNR said systemic insecticides are the most effective rapid response option and can be applied using methods such as soil application, trunk spraying or direct trunk injection. ODNR said a single treatment may provide about five years of protection.

The division also plans to host hemlock woolly adelgid treatment workshops in April and May. Information will be posted online.

Eastern hemlocks are evergreen trees native to Ohio, growing mainly in the eastern half of the state. While hemlock-dominated forests are not widespread, ODNR said they support unique habitats and are found in scenic areas including Hocking Hills, the Mohican region and nature preserves such as Lake Katharine in Jackson County.