Very little is known about how emerald ash borer will affect hardwood swamps, which often have a large ash component compared to upland forests. The aim of this research project was to investigate the current status of ash swamps that have become infested with emerald ash borer and make predictions about the future state of these forests. We surveyed three hardwood swamps in southern Michigan that varied in the amount of ash present (12.4%–58.8% basal area), which appears to affect how these communities will change as a result of emerald ash borer. Our analyses indicate that the two swamps with the least amount of ash will likely experience a proportional increase in surrounding trees, while structure of the site with the most ash will be altered in the future and may transition to a forest that is strongly influenced by shrub-like individuals as well as non-ash canopy trees.