The Scouting Report: A weekly digest

Trees of Sioux Falls, bad at history, SDSU engineering students, organ trafficking

The tree population in Sioux Falls has had a rough decade, starting first with a 2013 ice, wind and snowstorm, followed by the infiltration of the emerald ash borer, which has led to an ongoing effort to eliminate ash trees in the city as the infestation spreads.

Yet despite that, the city has managed to retain its designation as a Tree City USA from the Arbor Day Foundation, U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. The city’s designation was its 42^nd year as a member of Tree City USA.

The program requires that a city maintain a tree board, have a tree care ordinance, host an Arbor Day observance and proclamation and dedicate a forestry budget of at least $2 per capita. Sioux Falls is one of 29 South Dakota cities to fulfill the requirements.