Forest Stewardship Tip of the Day: Cleaning up storm damaged trees

*BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! The windstorm caused many trees to “hang up” in neighboring trees and it also broke large branches that are now hanging ready to fall. Keep your eyes up and make sure you are aware of your surroundings; the damaged trees can come down without warning!* 

The wind storm that blew through the county last weekend caused significant damage to many trees in the foothills (especially around Nederland and north Gilpin County). It is recommended that landowners work to clean up damaged trees over the next few months and by early spring at the latest. Storm damaged trees are highly susceptible to attack by several species of bark beetles. Ips and twig bark beetle infestation are the biggest concern and trees that were uprooted will most likely be infested by these beetles when they start flying again in the spring. The uprooted trees are highly susceptible because they are now extremely weakened and are sending stressed “smells” out in the forest that beetles hone in on. In addition, if possible it is recommended that you prune off large branches that were partially broken in the storm. 

Slash Management:
The Gilpin County slash site just south of Nederland will reopen to collect storm damaged slash and logs for a limited time. Boulder residents can haul material to the Gilpin County slash site for a small fee.  Visit http://co.gilpin.co.us/Maintenance%20and%20Trash/trashdefault.htm to find out complete details. You should act fast because their yard will only be open through Nov. 27. You can also rent or hire someone to chip the slash. Lastly, if you keep the slash on site make sure to stack it in a sunny location away from trees and your home so that it doesn’t add to fire danger. Hopefully, the slash will sufficiently dry before ips and twig beetles begin flying again next spring. 

Log Management:
Logs from green healthy trees (not infested with mountain pine beetle) can be kept as firewood or else hauled to a disposal site. If keeping logs for firewood you can help reduce the likelihood of ips and twig beetle infestation by helping facilitate rapid drying of the logs. You should loosely stack the logs in a sunny open location that ideally doesn’t get covered with snow. Ips and twigs might still infest the logs in the spring; but that is unfortunately always a risk associated with storing green firewood on site. Lastly, it is never a good idea to use healthy standing trees as end supports for green log piles. Stacking against living trees will increase the likelihood of beetles infesting those trees.  

Publications:

• Here is a link to a Colorado State Forest Service publication that outlines proper pruning techniques for storm damaged trees: http://csfs.colostate.edu/pdfs/Storm_Damage_Quick_Guide.pdf
• Here is a link to an Ips beetle management publication: http://csfs.colostate.edu/pdfs/Ips.pdf

Cheers,
Ryan

Ryan Ludlow | Forestry Education & Outreach Coordinator 
Boulder County | Land Use Department
P.O. Box 471, Boulder CO 80306
O: 720.564.2641 | F: 303.441.4856
rludlow@bouldercounty.org | www.bouldercounty.org/ForestHealth

Forest Stewardship Tip of the Day: bark beetles, bark beetles and bark beetles…

Sometimes I feel like a broken record, but I wanted to make sure that everyone has been out in the woods this fall to survey your land for newly infested trees. The work you do on your own land to remove currently infested trees can help reduce the total number of trees lost during the course of this bark beetle epidemic. Don’t forget that mountain pine beetles are tough little buggers and just cutting the trees down and leaving the cut logs in the woods won’t kill the beetles. You need to take extra steps to “sanitize” (aka kill the beetles underneath the bark) the infested logs. Take a look at our newly created bark beetle inspector field guide to learn more about ways to kill beetles under the bark and also to help in your hunt for beetles. It’s available online here: http://www.bouldercounty.org/find/library/environment/barkbeetlefieldguide.pdf (3MB).  

Don’t forget that outreach foresters are available to come out on site visits to help you as your manage your backyard forest. Feel free to give us a call or email with any questions you have about forest stewardship. 

The Daily Camera included a guest opinion piece today about the closure of our community forestry sort yards, bark beetle management and wildfire mitigation. Read the article here: http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_19300198?IADID (Scroll all the way to the bottom to read the article.)

Boulder County Mountain Community News – Zero Waste Fall Newsletter

Boulder County’s Resource Conservation Department puts together a quarterly Zero Waste Newsletter that we thought folks would be interested in reading. The fall issue focuses on October’s Wildfire Awareness Month, mountain spring clean up events, as well as on site composting of needles and cut grass. Take a look; we think you will find some useful information as you are out working in your backyard forest this fall and winter! Here is a weblink to the newsletter:http://www.bouldercounty.org/find/library/gogreen/zerowastenewsletterfall2011.pdf    

Cheers,
Ryan

Ryan Ludlow | Forestry Education & Outreach Coordinator 
Boulder County | Land Use Department
P.O. Box 471, Boulder CO 80306
O: 720.564.2641 | F: 303.441.4856
rludlow@bouldercounty.org | www.bouldercounty.org/ForestHealth

Forest Stewardship Tip of the Day: Bring us your slash and logs!

Both of our Community Forestry Sort Yards are open (on a limited basis) for slash and log collection. The fall is one of the best times of year to be out in the woods cutting and we highly recommend you haul your cut material to one of our sort yards. Right now is a good time to cut beetle infested trees, improve your homes defensible space and make your backyard forest healthier.

If you aren’t sure where to begin or have questions about forest management please feel free to give us a call or email! We can even set up a time for an outreach forester to visit your backyard forest to help evaluate the types of action you can take on the ground. 

The south county Nederland area sort yard is open on Fridays and Saturdays for the rest of October from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This week is the final days of operation of the north county Allenspark area sort yard site. It will close for the season at 5 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 15.  For complete details about our Community Forestry Sort Yard Program please visit www.BoulderCounty.org/ForestHealth.

October Wildfire Awareness Month: This weeks events!

Events this Week: October Wildfire Awareness Month! Visit www.BoulderCountyCWPP.org for a complete list of events and activities! 

What: Fire Aviation Operations Presentation
When: TONIGHT Wednesday, Oct. 12, 7-8:30 p.m.
Where: Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl St., Commissioners’ Hearing Room, 3rd Floor
*Please note that the location for the fire aviation operations presentation has been moved. It now will be held at the Boulder County Courthouse.

The presentation will teach about the types of aircraft used for fire aviation, their capabilities and limitations, Colorado’s current aviation program, where these aircraft come from, who flies them, and what it takes to become a firefighting pilot. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. For more information, contact Dave Zader at 303-441-4353 or zaderd@bouldercolorado.gov. Dave is the Fire Management Officer for the Wildland Division of the City of Boulder Fire Department.

What: Volunteer Forestry Project: Restoration and Reseeding
When: Sat. Oct. 15th, 2011 – 9am – 1pm
Where: Reynolds Ranch Open Space
For more info and registration visit: http://www.bouldercounty.org/apply/volunteer/pages/jobdetails.aspx?jobID=115

What: Fire on the Mountain: One Year after the Fourmile Canyon, Fire Ecology Hike 
When: Sun. Oct. 16th, 2011; 10 a.m. – noon
(a moderate one mile hike)
Where: Location will be announced after registration – Register at 303.678.6214

You are invited to a Fourmile Fire Assessment Open House this Friday!

Just days after the Fourmile Fire began in September 2010, Sen. Mark Udall requested a study of the fire similar to the one he requested after the Hayman Fire in 2002.The preliminary findings of that study will be presented to Boulder County residents and any interested members of the public at an open house this Friday afternoon in Boulder.

What: Public open house to discuss findings presented in the preliminary report of the Fourmile Canyon Fire Assessment
When: Friday, Oct. 14, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. A presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the assessment researchers
Where: Commissioners’ Hearing Room, Boulder County Courthouse, third floor, 1325 Pearl St., Boulder
*Light refreshments will be provided.

Researches will be available to answer specific questions regarding the report and representatives from Sen. Udall’s office, Boulder County, the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management will also be available.

Background: USFS agencies collaborated with the CSFS and assembled a team to conduct the study in December 2010. The study was led by scientists with the USFS’ Rocky Mountain Research Station.
Issues on which the study focuses include the:

•                      Existing on-the-ground conditions and how they influenced fire behavior

•                      Success or failure of specific aspects of firefighting activities

•                      Factors that influenced how and why structures burned

•                      Existing science related to restoration and protocols in place to learn about recovery.

Cheers,
Ryan
Ryan Ludlow | Forestry Education & Outreach Coordinator 
Boulder County | Land Use Department
P.O. Box 471, Boulder CO 80306
O: 720.564.2641 | F: 303.441.4856
rludlow@bouldercounty.org | www.bouldercounty.org/ForestHealth

Information relayed from Chief Chris Finn

Sawyers,

Concerning the wedges with the metal strike plate (1st attachment). While felling an elm 18” DBH, 4′-5′ back lean, I did not hit the wedge strike plate flush causing it to break off (2nd attachment). I looked at the wedge it appeared serviceable (less the strike plate) and like any other of the plastic type wedges we use. The tree was set-up and ready to go, so I continued to drive the wedge. Huge mistake, when I struck the wedge the next time the recoil of the ax was violent and unexpected, literally it was all I could do to avoid/stop the ax, narrowly missing the right side of my head. If you find these type of wedges with the strike plate missing remove them from service, and notify me (please), the second attachment will help you to identify. With the strike plate missing there will be a thin piece of metal embedded in the center of the wedge. Thanks for your time.

Randall Mitchell
USDA Forest Service
Land Between The Lakes NRA
Golden Pond KY
cell 270-748-5022

Forest Stewardship Tip of the Day: Bark Beetle Surveys Should Happen Now!

A majority of mountain pine beetles have now finished their annual flight and it is a great time of year to get out in your woods to survey your land for newly infested trees. By aggressively surveying for and removing currently infested trees each year, you have the ability to slow the spread of beetles in your local forest.

We are excited to announce a brand new “Bark Beetle Inspector Identification and Treatment Field Guide”. We hope this guide helps you be more effective at surveying your land for newly infested trees. You can download a copy of the new guide by visiting our Forest Health website:http://www.bouldercounty.org/find/library/environment/barkbeetlefieldguide.pdf (3MB).  Printed copies will be available in the County Land Use Office in a couple of weeks.

Community Meeting: To Review the Draft Boulder County Community Wildfire Protection Plan

The County has drafted the ”Boulder County Community Wildfire Protection Plan” which is the blueprint for future wildfire mitigation programs at a countywide scale. The draft plan contains numerous recommendations for policies, programs, and projects to help protect communities from future wildfires. These recommendations will help support the efforts being undertaken through local fire district community wildfire protection plans.

The draft plan is available for review at www.bouldercountycwpp.org. Please submit written comments on the draft plan to Jim Webster at jbwebster@bouldercounty.org by Friday, Sept. 23.

Jim Webster, Community Wildfire Protection Planner for Boulder County, would also like to invite you to attend a community meeting to review the draft plan. He will be answering questions and explaining the plan. Your participation is important. By commenting on the draft plan, residents can help insure future wildfire mitigation initiatives are successful.

Two Community Meetings are Scheduled: 1) Monday, September 19^th from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at Sunshine Fire Station #1, 311 County Road 83 and 2) Wednesday, September 21^st from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at Lyons Town Hall, 432 5^th Avenue

If you have questions please contact: Jim Webster at jbwebster@bouldercounty.org or 720-564-2600 P.O. Box 471, Boulder, CO 80306.

Mark your Calendars: Wildfire Preparedness and Planning Workshop – Saturday, Oct. 1 in Nederland

When: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 – 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: Nederland Community Center, 750 Highway 72 North
What: Free half-day Wildfire Mitigation Workshop
RSVP: Call 303-678-6238 or email sbokan@bouldercounty.org

Whether you live in the mountains, foothills or plains areas, we are all vulnerable to wildfires. As we pass the one year anniversary of the Fourmile Fire, it is good to remind ourselves about the need for proactive fire mitigation, evacuation planning, and sound forest management to reduce the impacts from future fires to your home and family.

The Colorado State Forest Service, Boulder and Gilpin Counties and CSU Extension in Boulder, Larimer and Gilpin Counties and Nederland Fire Protection District have put together this workshop to help you be prepared.  Titled “15 months, 15 days, 15 hours and 15 minutes”, the workshop will guide you through these time periods and what you can be doing in each to be ready and to help you and your house survive.

Specifically the workshop will cover:

• Creating three zones of defensible space – tree thinning
• Ignition resistant construction and building material modification
• Ongoing annual wildfire mitigation measures – grass cutting, seasonal clean up
• Family and personal information preparedness, evacuation/emergency planning, and home owners insurance.

The same workshop was offered in the spring of 2011 at the Boulder County Courthouse and the Gilpin County Community Center. Due to positive feedback, we are offering this wildfire workshop again this fall.  Mark your calendars and plan to attend this timely training!

RSVP by calling 303-678-6238 or email sbokan@bouldercounty.org with your name, email, phone number and number of people attending.  RSVP is not required but is helpful as we prepare materials for the workshop.

Boulder County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan Video Series: Walker Ranch Fire

Today we encourage you to view the Boulder County CWPP video which features the 2000 Walker Ranch Fire.Resident Ginger Graham tells the story of the 2000 Walker Ranch Fire. Everyone in the community was talking about the possibility of a wildfire because of the extreme conditions. Ginger recalls, “It was the years of the droughts so we’re over 90 degrees for a month and a half, there’s no rain at all, the winds are high, the trees are screaming for moisture; it’s just terrible.  There were signs up on the road about how dry and how dangerous it was, you know, people were doing all kinds of things.  Even neighbors were walking the trails trying to make sure that nobody was out here smoking and all of us were talking about it.”

Link to the Walker Ranch CWPP video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/BoulderCounty#p/c/466B051AC3E3C8BE/1/_HK2zqASlUI

Cheers,
Ryan

Ryan Ludlow | Forestry Education & Outreach Coordinator
Boulder County | Land Use Department
P.O. Box 471, Boulder CO 80306
O: 720.564.2641 | F: 303.441.4856
rludlow@bouldercounty.org | www.bouldercounty.org/ForestHealth

*Please visit our website to sign-up to receive emails about forestry workshops, community meetings, bark beetle management tips and more!

http://csfs.colostate.edu/pdfs/FINAL_2010_Forest_Health_Report_www.pdf