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Davenport, IA · Scott County

Davenport's Ash Trees: The Data

When the borer arrived, how fast an ash dies, which trees the city takes down — and which bill lands on the homeowner. Every figure cited to a public source.

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Davenport ash loss by the numbers

Local measurements and geology — not national boilerplate.

June 2015emerald ash borer confirmed in Davenport (Lincoln Ave & Rockingham Rd)
99 / 99Iowa counties now infested
2–4 yearsfrom infestation to a dead ash
$450–$1,200typical removal, mid-size 30–60 ft tree

Emerald ash borer was confirmed in Davenport in June 2015, near Lincoln Avenue and Rockingham Road. It has since been found in all 99 Iowa counties, and an infested ash dies in roughly two to four years — which means the trees infested during the spread are reaching the end of that window now. The part homeowners tend to discover late: the City of Davenport removes right-of-way ash trees rather than treating them, unless the adjacent resident pays for treatment — but a dead ash standing on private property is the owner's expense, and at $450–$1,200 for a mid-size tree it is not a small one.

Sources: Iowa Dept. of Agriculture (99-county EAB confirmation); Iowa DNR & iowatreepests.com (EAB biology and spread); Davenport City Code 8.14.280 via ecode360; cost ranges from Angi, HomeGuide and homeyou (2026)

Typical Davenport tree removal cost by size Stump grinding $325 Small tree (under 30 ft) $390 Medium (30-60 ft) $825 Large (60-80 ft+) $1500
Typical Davenport-area cost by tree size, plotted at the midpoint of each published range: stump grinding $150-$500, small (under 30 ft) $350-$435, medium (30-60 ft) $450-$1,200, large (60-80 ft+) $1,500 and up. Stump grinding is billed separately and is not included in a removal quote. Sources: Angi, HomeGuide, homeyou (2026).

Why Davenport lost so many trees at once

Two separate events stacked. The borer had been working through Davenport's ash since 2015, hollowing out trees that still looked alive from the street. Then the August 10, 2020 derecho hit — an 86 mph gust recorded at Davenport Municipal Airport, 79 mph at Quad City International, and 111,546 Quad Cities households without power. It remains the costliest thunderstorm in U.S. history at roughly $11 billion, and Davenport's city arborist described the tree loss at the time as "uncountable."

The storm took the trees that were already compromised. Silver maples — soft-wooded, prone to hollow spots — came down in the greatest numbers, but weakened ash went with them. What is left standing six years later is the slower problem: ash that survived the wind and is now dying on the borer's timeline instead.

The ownership line is what surprises people. Under Davenport City Code 8.14.280, right-of-way trees cannot be removed or trimmed without city-arborist authorization, and property owners are required to prune to 8 feet of clearance over sidewalks and 14 feet over streets. An owner can also be held liable for vehicle damage caused by a tree encroaching from their property into the right-of-way. So the tree you may not touch without permission can still be the tree you are responsible for maintaining. Davenport Public Works Forestry: 563.326.7923.

  • EAB arrival date and spread cited to the Iowa Dept. of Agriculture
  • City removal policy and clearance rules cited to Davenport City Code
  • Derecho measurements from the Davenport and Quad City airport readings
  • Cost ranges published as ranges, not a single invented number

Related pages

Every page cites its sources — start where your question is.

Tree Removal99 / 99Iowa counties with confirmed emerald ash borerView Storm Damage111,546Quad-Cities households without power, Aug 10 2020View Stump Grinding$150–$500typical per-stump grinding costView

Davenport Davenport Ash Tree Loss — FAQ

How do I know if my ash tree has emerald ash borer?
The common signs are thinning that starts at the top of the canopy, D-shaped exit holes about an eighth of an inch across, S-shaped tunnels under the bark, sprouts coming from the trunk, and heavy woodpecker activity stripping bark to reach larvae. By the time the upper canopy is bare the tree is usually well into the two-to-four-year decline.
Will the City of Davenport remove my dead ash for free?
Only if it is a right-of-way tree. The city removes ash in the public right-of-way rather than treating them, unless the adjacent resident pays for treatment. A tree standing on private property is the owner's responsibility and the owner's cost. If you are not sure which side of the line your tree falls on, Public Works Forestry at 563.326.7923 can tell you before you pay anyone.
Is it cheaper to remove a dead ash or a live one?
Usually the opposite of what people expect. A dead, brittle ash is more dangerous to climb and rig than a live tree, so crews often price it higher, not lower. Waiting rarely saves money, and a tree that fails on its own can take a fence, a vehicle or a roof with it.
Does a removal quote include the stump?
Typically not. Stump grinding is normally billed separately, generally $150-$500 depending on diameter and access, and more for very large stumps. Ask whether the quote includes stump removal and haul-away before you compare two bids — that single line is the most common reason two quotes look far apart.

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