WINNIPEG - August 7, 2009 - Winnipeg, MB – Beginning August 10, 2009, crews will treat American Elm trees on private and public property utilizing Dursban Turf®. The program is intended to control elm bark beetles, the carriers of Dutch Elm Disease (DED).

Treatment will take place in various locations throughout the city where DED has claimed American Elm trees. Also, as a preventative measure, the City treats riverbank American Elms and areas with large stands of American Elms on a two-year rotational basis. This year these areas include:

• The riverbanks of the Seine and LaSalle River.
• Boulevard trees in the Neighbourhoods of Wolseley, Old Tuxedo, Sir John Franklin, North River Heights, Wellington Crescent, Crescentwood, Kildonan Drive and Glenelm, North and South Point Douglas, St. John’s Park, Luxton and Seven Oaks, Norwood West, Riverview and Armstrong Point.

Treatment will be conducted utilizing Dursban Turf®, a chemical product, which is sprayed from portable sprayers directly onto the lower 50cm of the tree trunk. This product has been approved for use in Canada by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency, and will be used in accordance with federally-approved label directions by licensed pesticide applicators.

Spraying of trees will occur between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, weather permitting.

Information is also available by visiting the web site at Winnipeg.ca/bugline or by calling 311.