Today’s Forest Health Outreach update covers the following:
*Forestry Tip of the Day: Bark Beetles – Flying Now
*Event: Good Fire, Bad Fire – An Expert Panel Discussion and a Planned Burn at Heil – Aug. 27
*Article: New Wildfire Science – Small Steps Can Save Homes
*Video: What happens when a propane tank explodes?
*Nederland Meeting: Local Forest Fuels Treatment Projects – Aug. 21
*Sort Yard: Both Yards are Open

*Forestry Tip of the Day: Bark Beetles – Flying Now  
Forestry Tip of the Day: The summer is flying by and we are once again in the middle of mountain pine beetle (MPB) flight. Mass flight typically occurs once per year between mid-July to mid-Sept. Fortunately, MPB infestations in Boulder County have been declining for several years now. We hope you have seen less impact on your land.

We encourage you to take advantage of the declining populations and get out on your land to create healthier forests that are more resistant to future beetle outbreaks. The benefit gained by cutting this time of year outweighs the risks of drawing beetles to your land.

Starting in mid-Sept. use our bark beetle inspector field guide to search for new infestations. If you find new “pitch tubes”, flag the tree and make a plan for removal. As always contact us with any questions.

*Event: Good Fire, Bad Fire – An Expert Panel Discusses Effective Uses of Fire & a Planned Burn at Heil – Aug. 27
Boulder County Parks and Open Space invites you to attend an expert panel discussion on the use of prescribed fire. The panel will discuss the historical role fire played in our Front Range forests and how the use of prescribed fire can help return portions of our forest to a healthy state.

Parks and Open Space is planning a prescribed fire at Heil Valley Ranch this fall.  We would like to share with neighbors and county residents the details of this plan.  We will discuss the benefits of prescribed fire, the risks and the precautions we take to ensure a safe and ecologically effective burn. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for evening of forest ecology and fire.

When: Wednesday, Aug. 27, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Boulder County Parks and Open Space, 5201 St. Vrain Road, Longmont
Panel of Wildfire Specialists to include:

• Peter M. Brown, Director, Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research
• Michael Frary, Prescribed Fire Manager, State of Colorado,  Division of Fire Prevention and Control
• Jay Stalnacker, Fire Management Officer, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office

Questions?  Contact bcforestry@nullbouldercounty.org or 303-678-6206.

*Article: New Wildfire Science Shows That Small Steps Can Save Homes, Communities
Take a look at this fantastic wildfire mitigation article from National Geographic. The article focuses on much of the mitigation science we have been sharing with you over the years.
Read it here: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140730-fire-science-fireproofing-wildfire-california/

*Video: What happens when a propane tank explodes? 
Have you ever wondered why we encourage folks to clear combustible debris like firewood, fences and shrubs away from propane tanks? Well, take a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM0jtD_OWLU

O.K. you can admit it, after watching did you immediately start moving combustibles away from your tank? Yup, me to. Let’s do our part to keep firefighters safe and store combustibles away from propane tanks.

*Nederland Meeting: Local Forest Fuels Treatment Projects – Aug. 21
Wildfire mitigation fuels reduction work will soon begin in and around the Town of Nederland. At the Thurs., August 21st meeting of the Nederland Parks and Open Space Advisory Board (PROSAB), there will be a forest health presentation by Peter Brown, of Tree Ring Research, and presentations and Q&A by the US Forest Service and Boulder County regarding upcoming area projects.

PROSAB members will then discuss making a recommendation to the Nederland Board of Trustees concerning acceptance of a scope of work for fuels treatments on seven Town of Nederland properties that were included in a FEMA pre-disaster mitigation grant. These properties include Mud Lake Open Space, Big Springs Park, Joe Smith Park and Caribou Ridge Open Space.
Local Residents are encouraged to attend.
When: Thursday, 8/21, 7:00 PM
Where: Nederland Community Center, 750 Highway 72 North,

*Sort Yard: Both Yards are Open
Both the Nederland and Allenspark sort yards are open Wed. to Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Nederland Sort Yard will beclosed on Thursday Aug. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Noxious weeds: You can drop off noxious weeds at both sort yards, but please make sure to haul them in compostable paper bags. This helps prevent the spread of wind dispersed seeds while in transport.

Before hauling visit: www.bouldercounty.org/property/forest/pages/fhsortyards.aspx for complete program details.

Cheers,
Ryan

Ryan Ludlow | Forestry Education & Outreach Coordinator 
Boulder County | Land Use Department
2045 13^th Street, Boulder, CO 80302
720-564-2641 | rludlow@nullbouldercounty.org
www.BoulderCounty.org/ForestHealth
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