With the emergence of the exotic emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) in Michigan and other states, interest in ash (Fraxinus spp.) has increased greatly. The Michigan Ash Monitoring Project involves sampling the current condition of rural ash resources by placing 400 permanent monitoring plots throughout the state of Michigan. Of these plots, 80 will be selected for use as intensive research plots. A research study is proposed to develop microsatellite markers to study ash genetics. Little genetic work has been done on ash to date, and developing a basic understanding of genetics of ash could have many potential applications for future research. Tissue samples would be taken from ash trees within the intensive research plots. In the lab, these samples will be used to identify possible markers for studying interrelatedness among ash trees. Among the applications that could be derived from this work are an ability to determine seed sources for planted ash trees, an ability to characterize ash trees that escape damage by the emerald ash borer, and the development of planting stock to replace ash trees lost to this new exotic insect species. With useful markers, potential genetic reasons for ash decline from other causes and the possibilities of genetically inherited resistance to the emerald ash borer could be examined with the help of GIS mapping.