Hello and Happy Spring! 

Spring can mean just about anything in Colorado — snow, rain, sunshine or wind. But spring also brings new flowers, budding trees and green grass.  

In this edition of the Forest Ag Newsletter, we put together some useful information for you. The Colorado State Forest Service released several reports earlier this year that you may want to check out. Highlighted reports in this issue include the Colorado Forest Carbon Inventory, the Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests(that has updates on insects and diseases across the state) and the Colorado Forest Road Field Handbook.

We’re also happy to introduce our new Forest Legacy Program Specialist, Katie Rose Levin, and of course, we’ll provide reminders about the Forest Ag program and deadlines. Thanks for reading!

— Erik Castello, Forest Stewardship Program Specialist

Program updates

• A working group at the CSFS continues to clarify language and update internal processes for the Forest Ag program. You’ll continue to see minor changes to how we administer this program; however, annual requirements haven’t changed.   
• As a reminder, we’ll continue to distribute annual paperwork through email. Paperwork includes the courtesy letter you receive reminding you to re-enroll, the Inspection Request form, Accomplishment Record and Annual Work Plan forms. 
• Be on the lookout for your annual paperwork in your inbox or junk mail on Aug. 1. All paperwork will be sent from csfs_Forest_Ag@nullcolostate.edu and will also be accessible through the Forest Ag webpage.   
• We’ll update all guidance and policy documents and make them available on the Forest Ag page by June 1. These documents are excellent resources to ensure you’re complying with Forest Ag requirements. Please share these documents with consulting foresters or contractors you work with. 

Upcoming deadlines

June 30, 2025: Deadline to submit a Change of Annual Work Plan to your local CSFS field office. This is an opportunity to propose alternative forest management activities if you anticipate difficulties accomplishing the work identified in your annual work plan. This form will help you stay in compliance with Forest Ag, and you can find it on our website under Forms and Guidelines. Proposed changes are not considered final until signed and approved by a CSFS forester. 

Oct. 1, 2025: Deadline to complete annual work and submit paperwork and fee for continued participation. 

Forest Legacy Program survey  

The Forest Legacy Program is a federally funded, state-administered grant program that conserves working forests through fee simple acquisition (FSAs) or the purchase of conservation easements (CEs). In Colorado, the CSFS administers this program alongside the U.S. Forest Service. Working with non-profits and landowners, the CSFS helps landowners successfully navigate the FLP from application through the distribution of grant funds. This year the CSFS is considering updating some key aspects of the program to make it more aligned with Colorado’s conservation goals. As such, we would like to hear your thoughts! Please complete the survey below by May 21. 

Deadlines for Forest Legacy Program

Colorado’s Forest Legacy Program accepts applications on a rolling deadline basis. To be considered for this year’s program, interested parties should submit their application by midsummer. If you’re interested in learning more about the program, or applying, please check out the Forest Legacy Program website or email Katie Rose Levin.  

Meet the new Forest Legacy Program specialist

Katie Rose Levin, a new forestry program specialist, joined the CSFS in November 2024 to oversee the Forest Legacy Program. Levin is a professional tree nerd, excited about all things trees.

Levin started by earning her master’s degree in forestry from Duke University, then set out to spend as much time around trees as possible. So far she’s served as Duke University’s first Natural Resource Manager, created Leaf & Limb’s consulting department, founded and ran the non-profit TreesDurham, and served as the Town of Cary’s first Urban Forestry Manager. She’s thrilled to join the CSFS as the Forest Legacy Program Specialist, helping private landowners preserve their forests now and long into the future. When not in the office you’ll find her backpacking, scaling rock walls and generally getting up to good trouble out in the woods.  

Outbreaks of bark beetles and other insects expanded their footprints in forests during hotter, dryer conditions in 2024. Following a wet and cool year in 2023, the shift back to near-record temperatures and below-average precipitation in Colorado stressed trees needing several years of mild conditions to build defenses against attack from bark beetles and other forest pests. 

Western spruce budworm remains the most widespread forest pest in Colorado, increasing its impact from 202,000 acres in 2023 to 217,000 acres in 2024, according to aerial survey data from the CSFS and U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region. 

Data from the aerial survey also indicate that mountain pine beetle continues to build populations along the Front Range, in Gunnison County and in parts of the southwestern corner of the state. Total acres affected by mountain pine beetle in Colorado are up to 5,600. In addition, acres of trees killed by Douglas-fir beetle surpassed a level not seen in nearly a decade, while western balsam bark beetle remains the deadliest forest pest in Colorado for the third year in a row, despite holding steady at 27,000 acres of affected forests. Bark beetles are deadlier than western spruce budworm because they often kill trees outright, while the budworm and other caterpillars defoliate and weaken trees but do not always kill them. 

Depending on where you live in Colorado, different pests are more prevalent and affecting more trees. 

Northeast: Mountain pine beetle, emerald ash borer, Douglas-fir tussock moth, western spruce budworm 
Southeast: Piñon ips beetle, mountain pine beetle, spruce beetle, western spruce budworm,  
Southwest: Western spruce budworm, Douglas-fir beetle, mountain pine beetle, roundheaded pine beetle complex, spruce beetle 
Northwest: Piñon ips beetle, Douglas-fir beetle, western balsam bark beetle 

Key terms from the report

Carbon sequestration: The carbon dioxide absorbed by trees during photosynthesis. It’s stored within various carbon pools and may eventually return to the atmosphere through respiration, decomposition or disturbance.

Carbon sink: Forests that have MORE carbon entering the system than leaving through decomposition or disturbance.

Carbon source: Forests that have more carbon leaving the system than being stored over time.