A tree disease not far from Windsor's shoreline has the attention of city council.
On Monday, councillors are expected to discuss a report on the discovery of Oak Wilt Disease on Detroit's Belle Isle, as well as begin an awareness campaign for Windsor.
Oak Wilt is a vascular disease affecting oak trees, caused by a fungus. This puts any oak tree at risk but the red, pin and black oak tree varieties are most susceptible and affected trees can die within one growing season, according to the report.
Concerns were first raised in the fall of 2016, when Oak Wilt was discovered on Belle Isle. The report says Oak Wilt has affected about 48 acres of the island park's 200 acres of forest.
There is no Oak Wilt reported in Canada, but two factors come into play, the report says. The first is Belle Isle's proximity to Windsor. The second is Shumard oak trees that are not only on the island, but are also in Windsor and listed by the province as a "species of concern".
The report says there are over 2,000 oak trees in Windsor that would be at risk if Oak Wilt gained a foothold. Trees in the city's Ojibway Prairie Complex may also be at risk.
The city suggests increased monitoring by the city's parks and recreation department, in cooperation with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
