A number of ash trees are slated to be removed in south Kitchener after an infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer beetle was identified.

Over the winter, 380 ash trees were sampled in the city and two infestation sites were found.

Nineteen trees, all belonging to the city, were found to be infested and will be removed sometime after March 19.

David Schmitt, Kitchener's environmental and urban forestry project manager, says "We expect it's been in Kitchener for maybe three or even up to five years and it's really hard to see at at that time, it's really hard to detect."

Three of the trees slated to be removed are in the Doon South Road and Windrush Trail area.

Yvonne Fernandes, councillor for Kitchener Ward 4, says "I know residents will be concerned, especially once they see the tree cutting actually start happening."

An additional 12-15 small trees have been identified as potential research trees and will be removed the week of March 12 in order to monitor the rate of infestation.

The city will be assisted in the removal by the Canadian Forest Service (CFS), Schmitt says "At this point we don't have a process to sample small trees and that's a problem for all municipalities."

City staff was already aware of the earliest stage of the infestation in Ward 4, but say it is now advancing with a new infestation in Ward 6.

Fernandes hopes working with the CFS will help halt the progress of the Emerald Ash Borer beetle.

"I think with that combined effort maybe we will be able to save some trees if we can, it would be wonderful if we could."

It is the second year the city is sampling trees. The beetle was first spotted in south-end Kitchener in 2010 when one tree was found to be infected.

The Emerald Ash Borer beetle is a pest that has killed many ash trees. Their rapid spread is partly due to people moving infested materials and firewood.