Is Summit County turning red?

Frisco, Colorado. August 17, 2006---According to Cary Green, a timber management specialist with the White River National Forest, Summit County is turning red.

A recent US Forest Service survey here revealed that 70 to 85% of our lodgepole forest is now under attack by mountain pine beetles and would likely exhibit telltale reddish needles as early as next year.

Judging by the proliferation of pitch tubes and piles of sawdust typical of insect boring activity discovered so far, beetle attacks are spreading much faster than expected, Green told the group assembled for a Summit County Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force meeting early Thursday morning.

Forester Mark Morgan asked other tree service professionals in attendance if they too are noticing beetle hits on trees properly sprayed with insecticide. Scott Johnson of Affordable Tree Services answered that even trees protected with Carbaryl® or Astro ® are showing some signs of beetle activity.

Other experts observed that not only are treated trees still vulnerable, but younger, smaller diameter trees thought to be immune from attack, are not. Ross Wilmore, the east zone Fire Management Officer for the White River National Forest, confirmed that the infestation is so severe that all we can do is protect our infrastructure and plan for the new forest.

Bill Hahnenberg, representing the Upper Colorado Interagency Fire Management Unit, made a presentation on wildland fire use CLICK HERE TO VIEW. Considered an important forest management tool, naturally-occurring fires will be allowed to burn in designated areas of the national forest. Fire use experts will carefully monitor the progress of such fires often controlling them through naturally existing barriers and aggressive intervention to prevent spread into populated areas. All human caused fires will be immediately suppressed as will any natural fires occurring outside prescribed locations.

Ross Wilmore, fire management officer for the eastern zone of the White River National Forest, congratulated Summit County for doing an excellent job through a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that emphasizes fuel reduction in high risk areas.

Mandi McKinley of Senator Wayne Allard’s office and Erin Minks, representing Senator Ken Salazar, discussed the current state of legislation designed to address fire mitigation and watershed integrity issues intended for action by a united Colorado legislative delegation early next year.

Our Future Summit will be presenting a community-wide forum about Summit County’s future forest landscape Thursday, September 14^th at the Community & Senior Center near Frisco starting at 7:00 pm.

The Summit County Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force next meets at 7:30 am, Thursday, September 7^th at the Best Western Lake Dillon Lodge.

The public is invited to attend.

Fire Management Officers Bill Hahnenberg and Ross Willmore explain how the BLM utilizes fire as a forest management tool.	Forest Ranger Cary Green enlightens the task force about the rapid spread of the pine beetle during the latest flight. Bill Taylor looks on.
Mandi McKinley and Courtney Staatz represent Senator Wayne Allard and bring us up to date on legislative initiatives.	The task force discusses the effects of the pine beetles in their lives and businesses.
Task force meetings, held on the first and third Thursdays of each month, are open to the public.