Claude-Rioux Park 

New victims of the emerald ash borer in Aylmer

Many teams have been working in recent days at Claude-Rioux Park in the Aylmer district to cut down trees at the end of their lives. According to Ville de Gatineau, the cutting of trees, which lasted until March 18, is due to the emerald ash borer and Dutch elm disease. 

“It was the dead and dangerous trees that had to be grounded,” explained a City representative to the Aylmer Bulletin. The City points out that “these operations have become necessary for reasons of public safety”. To complete the task in a short period of time, the logging employees used forestry machinery.   

Gatineau promises that the area will be reforested in the spring of 2019 in order to comply with the requirements of the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques. The City’s Environment Department anticipates the planting of forest species native to Quebec. The choice of species will be made in the spring, says the City. From 2018 to 2020, the City has a budget of $185,000 for tree and woodlot management. 

The emerald ash borer is an exotic type of insect that attacks ash trees. In North America, it was first seen in 2002.  

The recreational and ornamental park, not far from Eardley Road and the Ottawa River, is over 4 acres (1,952.80 m2).