HUMBOLDT – Humboldt Table Rock Steinauer students joined the Nemaha NRD Thursday for a tree planting at the Kirkman’s Cove Recreation Area.

Most of the trees at the park were planted in 1988 when the watershed structure was complete, but the Richardson County arrival of emerald ash borer in 2023 has placed new pressure on green ash, which are in visible decline around the park’s public areas.

 

Although the invasive insect has not been found at the park,NRD information and education coordinator Maddie Million said the green ash trees are prominent among the park's shade canopy.

Million: “It’s a staple to, you know, when the park first opened. You can see all the trees that were planted when it first opened and we need to continue bringing in that new life year by year, so it’s great to get some new roots established as some of the old ones have kind of gone away.”

 

NRD field representative Steve Bartels said the green ash was a popular pick for public areas 40 years ago.

Bartels: “... If you have some different trees that don’t drop limbs easy or decline like these green ash trees. There's a high number from what we planted because they were quick growing. You know, green ash is a hardwood tree because it comes to a point, for safety reasons, we have to take them down.”

Students helped plant oak, sycamore and northern pecan trees to restore the shade for the day use section of the park.

Million: “This one is great because we get to have the community out here, specifically the youth. It’s great to have them involved in these hands-on plantings. That way they get a look at how the actual process goes from putting the tree into the ground all the way through watering it. Now these kids get to see these trees growing up as they come back out here to hopefully visit.”

Million said the statewide arboretum is working to reverse a trend in community forestry where more trees are taken down than those planted.