An effort to turn downed Eau Claire trees into furniture and other useful products instead of wood chips has garnered a statewide award. The Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council has honored the partnership between the City of Eau Claire and Madison-based Wisconsin Urban Wood with an Innovations in Urban Forestry award. The award was acknowledged at an April 26 Eau Claire City Council meeting. “I love what they’ve done in Eau Claire,” said Wisconsin Urban Wood executive director Twink Jan-McMahon, according to the Leader-Telegram. “They really have followed the spirit of the urban wood renewal movement.” The city is systematically felling ash trees which are expected to be killed in the near future by the emerald ash borer.