Title: Assessment of black ash (Fraxinus nigra) decline in Minnesota

Author: Ward, Kathleen; Ostry, Michael; Venette, Robert; Palik, Brian; Hansen, Mark; Hatfield, Mark

Year: 2009

Publication: In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H., eds. Proceedings of the eighth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2006 October 16-19; Monterey, CA. Gen. Tech. Report WO-79. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 115-120.

Abstract: Black ash (Fraxinus nigra) is an important component of wetland forests throughout the Upper Midwest and northeastern United States and is highly valued for paneling, furniture, and basketry. Decline of black ash has been noted with increasing frequency, although no detailed studies of the pattern of decline across the region have been done. From analyses of Forest Health Monitoring aerial sketchmapping data, an association was found between dieback and decline of black ash and proximity to city, county, and State roads. In addition, relationships between growth and mortality levels of black ash and climatic, edaphic, and physiographic factors were found through analyses of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) field plot data collected in Minnesota between 1977 and 2005. FIA data were limited, however, in revealing factors that could have caused the decline, such as damage from biotic and abiotic agents.