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

Right now is a good time of year to start thinking about getting out in your woods to survey for the presence of newly infested mountain pine beetle trees.  The Fall (after about Sept. 15) is the best time to survey for newly infested trees because signs of beetle attack are the most obvious and infested material cut in the fall and early winter will have many months to dry out before beetles fly again in the summer of 2012. Another reason that fall beetle surveying is recommended is because it gives you the longest amount of time to figure out a game plan to deal with the infested trees.

Some landowners have found it useful to survey their entire property and flag all of the infested trees with ribbon or paint before they begin cutting trees. By having a total count of newly infested trees you will have a better understanding about how much work you will need to complete before beetles fly from your infested trees next summer.

We attached a couple of bark beetle management guides to this email to help you learn how to identify infested trees and to understand what types of treatment options are available. As always, if you have questions about beetle management please give us a call or email.  

Announcement: The Sheriff’s Office has lifted Fire Restrictions in Boulder County

Recent cooler temperatures and moisture have dropped the fire-danger rating in Boulder County. All fire restrictions were lifted, September 7, 2011 at 12:00 p.m.  It may take a few days for county personnel to remove all the “fire ban” signs posted throughout the county, but no enforcement action will be taken.

Upcoming Forestry Training: 2011 Forestry Fair in Fort Collins on Sept. 17

The Colorado State Forest Service and the Warner College of Natural Resources at CSU invite you to the 2011 Forestry Fair and help us celebrate the International Year of Forests. The Forestry Fair will feature forestry equipment demonstrations, facility tours, educational sessions, children’s activities and the latest innovations in forest products. Come explore careers and learn about the role active forest and wildfire management plays in the conservation of resources that we all share, including water, wildlife, recreation and wood.

This free event will take place at the Colorado State Forest Service facilities on the Colorado State University Foothills Campus, 3843 LaPorte Ave., Fort Collins from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on September 17.

For more information or to register for this no-cost event, contact CSFS_ForestryFair@nullmail.colostate.edu. See the attached flier for more details.

Boulder County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan Video Series: Fourmile Fire One Year Anniversary

September 6th was the one year anniversary of the Fourmile Canyon Fire. It is a day we should remember everyone impacted by the fire and commemorate those who worked so hard to help their fellow residents. Watch the video Saving Gold Hill to revisit the story of just how close we came to losing this historic community.

Saving Gold Hill: A Story of the Fourmile Canyon Fire

The Fourmile Canyon Fire threatened the historic town of Gold Hill. “I left town, had a tear in my eye at the bottom of the canyon saying wow we just lost our town,” recalls Dave Hitchcock.  Residents and firefighters tell this remarkable story of just how close they came to losing their homes and their historic community. One volunteer fire fighter, Andrew Martinek, describes the day air support arrived to help save Gold Hill, “All day we were waiting for air support, waiting for air support, and it was never coming. We thought Gold hill was going to burn.  And then finally at the end of the day, number 54 bombed and dropped retardant up the back of all these houses right on the line.  He dropped in low and painted all these houses red perfectly with retardant.”  The success story of Gold Hill has many heroes to thank and numerous lessons to learn for the next time wildfire threatens this county.

Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/user/BoulderCounty#p/c/466B051AC3E3C8BE/0/-iMU5BsoCRY
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@nullbouldercounty.org | www.bouldercounty.org/ForestHealth