The City of Longmont is gathering data using an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to help determine the spread of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Longmont. The UAS (drone) is flying over the tree canopy of several public parks including Valley Park, Hover Park, Pratt Park, Loomiller Park, Willow Farm Park, and also Twin Peaks Golf Course on Thursday, August 9, 2018. The City provides web notifications to the public concerning all approved missions of where and when UAS are authorized to operate.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a non-native, wood-boring beetle that can attach to all ash tree species. This insect was first discovered in Michigan in 2002, and since then it has spread to 22 states, including Colorado. The ash tree is a very commonly planted tree in many communities. EAB has killed tens of millions of ash trees in the United States. Once the EAB population builds in numbers, ash mortality is near 100%.

On June 6, 2016, the first siting of the EAB was reported in Longmont.  Longmont is estimated to have an ash tree population of approximately 43,000 trees and the City is now working to protect 900 of the approximately 2,800 City–owned Ash trees in Longmont.  

The City of Boulder first discovered and confirmed the presence of EAB in September 2013. Boulder Urban Forestry delimitation survey determined EAB has spread within the City of Boulder.

On Nov. 12, 2013 the Colorado Department of Agriculture established a quarantine zone around Boulder County, the City of Erie, and the Republic Landfill (north Jefferson County) off of Highway 93.