DOI: 10.15468/jeqj74
title: Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA) Lingering Ash Survey- Powered by Anecdata.org

description: MaMA Lingering Ash Search is one of three Anecdata.orgopen_in_new projects of the Ecological Research Institute’s Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA) program, which aims to help prevent ash extinction and mitigate EAB damage (see MonitoringAsh.org). Lingering ash, meeting strict criteria (≥4” DBH, naturally occurring, not chemically treated against EAB, and in particular canopy health classes), can only be found in areas determined to have already reached relevant ash mortality thresholds. These areas are listed at www.MonitoringAsh.org/open_in_new, where there are also instructions on how to use the AvenzaMaps app to determine whether any particular site (including your current location) is in such a search zone. However, “potential lingering ash”, meeting the same criteria as lingering ash, can be reported from any area where the mortality thresholds haven’t been met, but where most of the ash trees are dead or dying from EAB. 

Finding and reporting lingering ash through this Anecdata.org project will make it possible for the US Forest Service EAB Resistance Breeding Project to obtain twigs from the trees, subject to landowner permission, to help propagate EAB-resistant lines for use in ash conservation and restoration. You should inform landowners of the locations and importance of these trees so they can take steps to protect them from felling. For “potential lingering ash” reported, you will be informed when the area eventually reaches the mortality criteria that make it a lingering ash search zone and then asked to check the trees again to see if they are still healthy and, if they are, to report them as lingering ash. You should inform landowners of the locations and importance of potential lingering ash and encourage them to protect them from felling as long as they are healthy.

To do this project, you need to be able to recognize trees as ash (genus Fraxinus), but are not required to be able to distinguish between ash species. However, it is particularly helpful if you can tell blue ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata) from other ash species, and also if you can recognize black ash (Fraxinus nigra). You also need to be able to assess the ash in terms of their canopy health classopen_in_new, recognize open_in_newdefinite evidence of EABopen_in_new, and estimate or measure tree diameter. None of this is particularly difficult, but make sure to train yourself before you begin collecting actual data. 

All data can be collected and submitted using the Anecdata.org app on a smartphone or tablet or can be submitted via the Anecdata.org website. If not using a smartphone or tablet for data collection, you can download and print a paper data sheet from www.monitoringash.org/lingering-ash-surveysopen_in_new, use a camera to take photos and a GPS unit to record location data. Any questions or comments should be sent to outreach@MonitoringAsh.org.

If you are doing a systematic search for lingering or potential lingering ash trees, it is helpful to record your search track on your smartphone using AvenzaMaps or on a GPS unit; then, if you do not find any such trees, you can email your search track and a description of where you searched to outreach@MonitoringAsh.org. This will help prevent wasting repeated search effort on areas where from which these trees are absent.

Terms: Dead and dying ash trees can pose hazards of serious injury from falling tree material. Participants agree to assume all risks of injury from these trees and to not hold project developers, directors, managers or funding sources liable for them. Participants should not enter private property without the landowner’s permission. Project questions and other text are copyright ERI 2017, 2018, 2019.