REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - The City of Rehoboth Beach says five of its Red Oak trees in Grove Park show signs of a deadly plant disease called Bacterial Leaf Scorch.
Officials say BLS is a disease spread by insects that feed on the trees. They say there is no cure, and once a tree is infected, it has about three to eight years left of its lifespan.
They say they do not know when the trees became infected, but it is clear they declined greatly since tree work was completed earlier this year.
The city says they are working to get the infected trees removed as soon as possible, currently looking for a company that could start work as early as this week. There are two affected trees by the storage shed, and three affected by the bathrooms. City officials also add they plan to replace any trees that must be taken down.
Rehoboth Beach officials say they also plan to use insecticides to try and prevent the spread of BLS-carrying insects. Without intervention, officials say these insects could affects all Oaks, Maples, and Sycamores throughout Rehoboth Beach.
Once the trees are removed and the insecticide treatments are completed, officials say Grove Park can safely reopen to foot traffic. They say they will notify the public when plans are confirmed.
They also say more testing will be planned to better assess overall tree health and damage around the park.
Grove Park is the typical site for the Rehoboth Beach farmers' market. The city says they recommend the farmers' market continues to be held at its temporary location at the Convention Center parking lot until further notice. Previously, the City planned for the market to be held there for three weeks, starting Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Rehoboth Beach officials say BLS can progress quickly, and it is possible the trees contracted the disease up to three years ago. However, they say symptoms often do not show up until late August or early September. Officials say two years ago, the trees appeared healthy with full canopies.
