Mother Nature has thrown a lot of challenges at Omaha, including the coronavirus crisis, this week’s bitter cold temperatures and, as soon as that long-awaited thaw arrives, yet more potholes.

Officials are taking steps to address those challenges, but City Hall has admitted defeat on one front – the fight against the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that infects and kills ash trees.

The City of Omaha is preparing to remove thousands of ash trees from public property to avoid the risk to persons and property that occurs as limbs become brittle and fall apart as the tree dies.

“Our first priority was to save trees, not cut them down,” Parks Director Matt Kalcvich said in a news release Wednesday. “We have unfortunately reached the point where treatment is not an effective strategy. The threat of personal injury and property damage is too significant to delay this work any longer.”

The first known case of the emerald ash borer in Omaha was in June 2016 in an ash tree in Pulaski Park near 40th and G streets. The city inventoried ash trees, with 14,569 on public property. So far, the city has removed over 6,000 trees. Others had been treated but now will be cut down.

“This is a public safety threat that we must take seriously,” Mayor Jean Stothert said in a release. “We are ready to implement the next stage of our plan to address the dangers.”

The city had been removing damaged trees and those in high-risk locations such as parks, playgrounds and near schools.

The Omaha City Council agreed to hire Great Plains Tree Care to remove 548 trees from Adams, Bryan, Crosskey Villages, Hitchcock, Seymour Smith and Willow Wood parks at a total cost of $142,718.89. The council also approved two contracts with Atrium Tree Service to remove 834 trees from rights of way across the city for $185,700. The funds were included in the city’s annual capital improvement plan.

The City of Omaha and Keep Omaha Beautiful have plans to replace the trees. Together, 3,433 new trees have been planted in city parks and along trails. Tree replacement efforts will continue for several years.