WASHINGTON — D.C.’s Theodore Roosevelt Island has reopened after a temporary closure to remove diseased trees.
The island was closed June 23. The trees were affected by the emerald ash borer, a pest that can kill ash trees within two to three years of infection.
Surveys reveal many of Roosevelt Island’s trees are being damaged by the pest. Once a tree is infected, there is no cure.
The pest infects white ash trees, which used to be the tenth most common species in the D.C. area. According to a release by the National Park Service, white ash trees in the area have decreased significantly between 2009 and 2016.
The post Roosevelt Island reopens after removal of diseased trees appeared first on WTOP.
Copyright DC WTOP