07-08-2025
‘We've been fortunate so far:' Yorkton completes Dutch Elm Disease survey
The City of Yorkton recently completed its comprehensive Dutch Elm Disease survey, which identified three infected trees.
A lush canopy of elm trees provides ample shade and a cozy atmosphere to Yorkton's Wallace Ave.
The verdant streetscape is monitored by the city as part of its urban forestry management program, which regularly checks for signs of Dutch Elm Disease (DED). All to comply with the provincial regulation aimed to stop the disease's spread.
The recently completed comprehensive study, carried out by Living Tree Environment Ltd., is part of the program, and comprises of various checks from visual inspection, to detecting violations related to elm wood.
As Silver Liccue, Yorkton's arborist explained, Dutch Elm Disease is a fungal disease.
'It's carried by elm bark beetles. That's the vector of the disease … it carries the spores from infected elm trees and transmits it to the live ones," she explained.
The fungus clogs the tree's water and nutrient conducting system – which causes the tree to die.
It first appeared in North America in 1930 and has destroyed millions of trees since. Yorkton has about 1,400 elm trees, which make up 25 percent of the public urban forest. As Liccue explained, DED has visible signs.
'The leaves will start to wilt, followed by yellowing, and from that yellowing the infected branch or twig will turn brown,' she said.
According to Yorkton's parks manager, Matt Charney, the recent survey identified ten DED symptomatic trees, and three tested positive for the disease – three more than what the city wants to see.
'We've been fortunate so far because other cities have been hurt worse than we have,' Charney told CTV News.
According to an official letter sent to city council by Taylor Morrison, Yorkton's director of recreation and community services, other cities in Saskatchewan were indeed hit hard.
For example, Weyburn, which is just over half the size of Yorkton, has identified ten positive cases.
Following a laboratory confirmation, the symptomatic trees are immediately removed as part of Yorkton's DED response plan. Then, they will be disposed at the city landfill, and adjacent trees are tested.
'The shade or just the natural beauty of an elm tree – it's very hard to lose,' Charney said.
Liccue told CTV News that it takes about 50 years for an elm tree to mature and form a nice canopy – such is the case on Wallace Avenue. He noted however, that those particular trees could be around 100 years old.
To preserve the city's greenery, Charney's team plants young trees to replace the lost ones in the fall.
Residents also have to comply with regulations in order to stop the spread of the disease that would destroy the new lush trees.
This includes an elm pruning ban from April 1 to Aug. 31, as well as an elm tree moving and storage ban. This year, the survey found eight violations.
'There's a cost value to us removing trees, and losing those trees for a long time,' Charney explained why it's important for everyone to follow the rules and be aware of the threat.
Residents are encouraged to report dead or dying trees to the city. Charney asked the public to visit Yorkton's dedicated site to DED to learn more about the program.
