Announcement: A Series of Local Community Trainings on Wildfire Mitigation!

The county has been working with communities throughout the foothills to set up a series of community trainings titled “The Keys to Creating and Maintaining Effective Defensible Space.” The trainings start this week and will be held in the evenings in Gold Hill (April 25), Nederland (May 2), Coal Creek Canyon (May 9) and Allenspark (May 23).

The trainings present lessons learned from the draft Fourmile Canyon Fire Assessment (http://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/docs/fourmile-canyon-fire/preliminary-findings.pdf) and give participants concrete steps to take to prepare their homes and forests for future fires. Current research suggests that landowners who take precautionary action dramatically increase the likelihood of their homes surviving the next fire. 

There have already been several destructive early season wildfires and the fire danger throughout the foothills and mountains of Boulder County remains high. There continues to be an early season fire ban (www.bouldercountysheriff.org/) in effect and unless we receive significantly more precipitation we may be moving into a very active and dangerous wildfire season. Right now is a very important time to learn how to prepare your home and family for future wildland fires. 

Gold Hill Area Training Date
When: Wednesday, April 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Gold Hill Community Center, 1011 Main St. (above the Main Fire Barn)
Sponsor: Town of Gold Hill

Nederland Area Training Date
When: Wednesday, May 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Nederland Community Center, 750 Highway 72 North
Sponsors: Nederland Fire Protection District, Town of Nederland, Nederland Parks Recreation and Open Space Advisory Board PROSAB

Coal Creek Canyon Area Training Date
When: Wednesday, May 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Coal Creek Canyon Improvement Association, 31528 Highway 72, Golden
Sponsor: The Environmental Group

Allenspark Area Training Date
When: Wednesday, May 23, 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Outside at the Allenspark Community Forestry Sort Yard, 8170 Highway 7

For more information on the series of wildfire mitigation trainings visit: www.bouldercounty.org/ForestHealth. 

Forest Stewardship Tip of the Day: Ips Beetles are Flying and MPB Infested Trees are Fading

Forestry Tip of the Day: “observations from the field” Over the past two weeks I have observed Ips beetles (pine engraver) flying and attacking freshly cut “green” firewood piles and freshly cut “green” slash. I have also begun to observe trees “fading” from bright green to dull green and then to a reddish/yellowish color along the Peak to Peak Hwy Corridor due to mountain pine beetle attack during the 2011 beetle flight. 

Why is this important?? Ips bark beetle fly multiple times (4-6 times) each summer and often their most damaging flight occurs this time of year in the spring. If you have been out cutting over the past two(ish) months I would recommend that you survey the “freshly cut material” (material that was still green and wet when cut) for signs of ips beetle infestation. Look for very small piles of sawdust looking material (aka frass) accumulating on the tops of logs and slash. If you see signs of ips beetle attack and don’t know what to do then please feel free to give me a call for a quick conversation about ips beetle management!

Mountain pine beetle fly once per year between mid-July and mid-Sept. The trees that were infested during last summer’s 2011 flight “fade” from green to red/yellow about 8-9 months after initial attack. Right now is a perfect time to survey your land and search for trees that are just starting to fade. These fading trees are still infested with beetles from the 2011 flight and it is highly recommended that these trees be removed at minimum a month (the sooner the better) before the 2012 mountain pine beetle flight begins (flight typically occurs from mid-July to mid-Sept.). These currently infested “fading” trees are easy to pick out on the landscape right now which is why we recommend surveying your forest for trees that are changing colors.

Both the Allenspark and Nederland Sort Yards are opening in May and they are free locations to dispose of beetle infested wood. For more information on sort yards visit:www.BoulderCounty.org/ForestHealth 

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!

Sheriff Pelle Orders Outdoor Fire Ban effective Tuesday, March 27 at 10:30am

Boulder County has seen little moisture over the past month and fire conditions continue to worsen as little relief is anticipated. In addition, Red Flag Fire and high wind warnings and watches have continued to be issued almost weekly. The National Weather Service had declared March 2012 as the driest month on record. These weather conditions along with a series of at least three human-caused fires have prompted Sheriff Joe Pelle to pro-actively respond by issuance of a Fire Ban.

State statutes authorize counties to impose a fire ban when “the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, loss of life or property resulting from any natural cause or cause of human origin, including but not limited to fire…”

Responding to the current threats and conditions, Sheriff Joe Pelle has enacted a fire ban is in effect and open burning is restricted. The sale of fireworks and use of fireworks and model rockets is prohibited in all unincorporated areas of Boulder County. The Sherriff request that outdoor recreational shooting be considered hazardous and the public should take great caution or even refrain from these activities.

The Fire Ban allows for:

• Fire contained within Liquid or gas fuel stoves
• Camp fires in currently open to the public USFS improved/maintained campgrounds
• Charcoal grill fires on private lands

It bans all other open fire, the use of any kind of fireworks and model rockets.

The restrictions will take effect at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 27^th, 2012.  Advisory signs will be posted on roadways countywide by the end of this week.

The Fire ban will remain in effect until the hazardous fire conditions subside.

Anyone found in violation of the Fire Ban may be convicted of a class 2 petty offense and may be subject to a $500 fine. Higher fines may be imposed for subsequent offenses.

Forest Stewardship Tip of the Day: Clean out your Gutters

Forestry Tip of the Day: Right now is a good time to get out your ladder (or borrow one from a neighbor) and head up to your roof to clean pine needles out of your gutters and remove any debris that has accumulated on your roof.

Why is this simple task important?? Flying hot embers are a major reason that homes are lost during wildfires. During big fires embers blow great distances ahead of the main fire front. Upon contact with our homes these embers flow like water down our roof lines and collect in pine needle filled gutters. By removing the pine needles you can help reduce the likelihood of embers igniting your home.

The Colorado State Forest Service has a wealth of information available online about other actions you can take to improve the chances of your home surviving the next fire. Visit: http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/pub-home-land-owners.html#wildfireprotection for more info.

We need your Help – Volunteer as a Community Forestry Sort Yard Host!

Volunteer Community Forestry Sort Yard Hosts are needed at the Allenspark and Nederland Community Forestry Sort Yards to make sure that the yards continue to be a local hub of community-based forestry information.

Volunteer Sort Yard Hosts will greet people as they enter the yard, collect data on the material they are delivering, provide outreach to sort yard users about forest ecology, bark beetles, and wildfire mitigation. Volunteers will not be responsible for helping unload logs and slash. 

This summer the Allenspark Sort Yard will operate May 1 to July 7 from 9am to 5pm, Tuesday-Saturday. We are looking for individuals who can commit to 4 hour shifts, a minimum of 15 hours per month.  Our greatest needs are Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The Nederland Sort Yard will operate Fridays and Saturdays from May 18 to June 9, 9am to 5pm. We are looking for individuals who can commit to 2-3 hour shifts, a minimum of 10 hours total volunteer commitment.

Application deadline is April 27th and training is scheduled for May 5th. For more information and/or to receive a volunteer application, contact Shane Milne at 303-678-6089 orsmilne@bouldercounty.org.

Visit http://www.bouldercounty.org/live/environment/land/pages/fhsortyards.aspx for further info about our Community Forestry Sort Yard Program including the 2012 operational schedule. 

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! 

Forest Stewardship Tip of the Day: Bust out your Rakes – Spring is Here!

Numerous wind storms battered the foothills this winter and if your backyard looks anything like mine then you have branches strewn throughout and pine needles are piled in your gutters, roof and at the base of your flammable siding. There have already been a few small wildfires this spring and until grasses start to green up we will be at an elevated risk for wildfires.

Forestry Tip of the Day: Right now, before grasses and shrubs green up is a good time to rake away all of the pine needles and grasses that have collected in “jackpots” along your homes flammable building material (walls, decks, fences, gutters etc.). 

Why is this simple task important??? One of the three primary reasons why homes burn during wildfires is because of a phenomenon known as “ember blizzards”. During wildfires thousands of flaming hot embers blow great distances ahead of the main fire front and hit the vertical walls of houses and roof lines. Upon contact with walls and roofs the embers flow like water and collect in hot piles of burning embers by your homes foundation and in the gutters. If you take action and rake all pine needles and grasses away from your home, keeping a nice cleared area of 3-5 feet around your home, you can dramatically reduce the likelihood of your home igniting from ember blizzards. Don’t let embers burn you!

As part of the County’s Forest Health Initiative, we are offering a series of free forestry trainings this spring focused on wildfire mitigation. We are currently setting up training dates in Allenspark, Coal Creek Canyon, and Nederland (dates will be announced soon). If your HOA, Town, Fire Protection District and/or community group would like to schedule your own local wildfire mitigation training please contact us.

Next week we are offering the first in the series of trainings in the Sugarloaf Community. Join us on Tuesday, March 20 from 6-7 pm to learn about the “Keys to Creating and Maintaining Effective Defensible Space”. Ryan Ludlow, Boulder County’s Outreach Forester will provide you with lessons learned from the Fourmile Fire and a list of concrete steps that you can take to dramatically improve the chances of your home surviving the next wildfire. For more info visit:http://www.bouldercounty.org/live/environment/land/pages/foresthealthevents.aspx 

Volunteer Community Forestry Sort Yard Hosts are needed at the Allenspark and Nederland Community Forestry Sort Yards to make sure that the yards continue to be a local hub of community-based forestry information. Volunteer Sort Yard Hosts will greet people as they enter the yard, collect data on the material they are delivering, provide outreach to sort yard users about forest ecology, bark beetles, and wildfire mitigation. Volunteers will not be responsible for helping unload logs and slash. 

This summer the Allenspark Sort Yard will operate May 1 to July 7 from 9am to 5pm, Tuesday-Saturday. We are looking for individuals who can commit to 4 hour shifts, a minimum of 15 hours per month. Our greatest needs are Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The Nederland Sort Yard will operate Fridays and Saturdays from May 18 to June 9, 9am to 5pm. We are looking for individuals who can commit to 2-3 hour shifts, a minimum of 10 hours total volunteer commitment. 

Application deadline is April 27th and training is scheduled for May 5th. For more information and/or to receive a volunteer application, contact Shane Milne at 303-678-6089 orsmilne@bouldercounty.org.

Visit http://www.bouldercounty.org/live/environment/land/pages/fhsortyards.aspx for further info about our Community Forestry Sort Yard Program including the 2012 operational schedule.

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: Announcing the Spring Sort Yard Opening dates!

Boulder County is pleased to announce our Community Forestry Sort Yard operating schedule for the 2012 cutting season. 
Allenspark Area Sort Yard:

ü  Scheduled to open on Tues., May 1, at 9 a.m.

ü  Closes for the season on Sat., July 7 at 5 p.m.

ü  Standard Operating Schedule: Tues. thru Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ü  Holiday closure in observance of Independence Day on July 4.

Nederland Area Sort Yard:

ü  Scheduled to open on a limited basis on Friday, May 18, at 9 a.m.

ü  Open four consecutive Fridays and Saturdays only

ü  In late spring the site will be open only on May 18, 19, 25, 26, and June 1, 2, 8, 9.

ü  The site will then reopen later in the summer from Aug. 4 thru Oct. 20 on the standard Tues. thru Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.

ü  The site does not accept MPB infested logs from Aug. 4 thru Sept. 15.

Our sort yard program has been a huge success and we are looking forward to another productive year of forest management on private landowner! Visithttp://www.bouldercounty.org/live/environment/land/pages/fhsortyards.aspx for further info about our Community Forestry Sort Yard Program. Both sort yard sites may have additional closures dependent upon weather, staff training and administrative requirements.

CSU Extensions Forestry Webinar Series – Free Online Forestry Trainings!

Colorado State University (CSU) Extension is hosting a five part “Forestry Webinar Series” starting tomorrow March 1 at noon.  Online webinars are a great way to learn about forest management from the comfort of your home or office. Please join CSU Extensions to learn more about windbreaks, tree care, forest health, wildlife, and much more. Visithttp://www.ext.colostate.edu/sam/forestry.pdf for more information on topics covered and to register for the webinars.  Contact John Rizza, CSU Extensions at (970) 243-5068 Ext. 128 for more information.

Forestry Article of Interest: Communities working to create healthy forests

Here is a recent news article from Teller County that I thought folks might find interesting. The article focuses on the need to restore our ponderosa pine (lower montane) forests before devastating wildfires occur. It highlights local efforts of the organization the Coalition for the Upper South Platte and how they have been working to implement forest restoration on large tracts of land in order to create healthier forests that are more resilient to future fire. Check out the article here:http://www.ourcoloradonews.com/tellercounty/news/communities-create-healthy-forests/article_707a41b8-cf0e-5ed8-937b-e69075018a55.html

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!