You can help battle emerald ash borer

Want to be good at identifying trees in the woods when you go for hikes? Or do you want to be able to walk through your own yard and identify the trees you have growing right at home?

Hutchinson is participating in a special project with the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources this summer. The goal is to help Hutchinson prepare for the emerald ash borer by inventorying Hutchinson’s tree population.

The Hutchinson Forestry Department is looking for volunteers to help inventory trees by participating in a free training session put on by the university. The 16-hour tree ID training will be given in late March and April to volunteers willing to spend at least four to six hours this spring and summer in helping City Forester Mark Schnobrich and other city workers count the city’s trees.

Anyone interested in college level training for free and helping for a short time this summer should call Schnobrich at 320-234-4459 for more information.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)