Celebrate Spring With Saturday Evening Programs At Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park officials have announced two Saturday evening programs occurring over the next two weeks:

Bear Necessities: Black Bears in Rocky Mountain National Park

On Saturday, May 25 at 7:00 p.m. join park ranger Sue Langdon to explore Rocky's black bears and their lifestyles. Rocky has a relatively small population of black bears compared to many other national parks. Yet, these forest roaming bears still make an impression to visitors in the most surprising places throughout the park!

Bears can completely surprise people with their activities and it is easy for people to mis-interpret what a bear is about to do. Does a bear standing upright on its hind feet mean it is ready to attack? What do bears prefer to eat? Is it humans or ants? Find out the truth about black bears and what they need to survive and thrive in Rocky Mountain National Park.

What's up with these forests? Mountain pine beetle impacts in Rocky Mountain National Park

On Saturday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. learn the latest about the mountain pine beetle and their impacts on our forests. The recent mountain pine beetle outbreak has left a vast number of dead trees in its wake. From a distance it can appear as though entire forests are dying, but research suggests that many trees and seedlings have survived. This presentation will discuss mountain pine beetle ecology, impacts in the park, and how forests may change in the future as a result of this disturbance.

Join Katie Renwick, a PhD candidate at Colorado State University who spent last summer in the Rocky Mountain Nature Association fellowship program. Her research focuses on understanding how climate change and disturbance affect landscape-scale patterns of forest composition. She has been conducting research in Rocky Mountain National Park since 2010.

Both programs are free, and will be held at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

The Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation in Rocky Mountain National Park (Part 2)

Yesterday we showed a video featuring Park Ranger Michael Edwards as he discusses how the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation is impacting Rocky Mountain National Park. A recent report published by the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado State Forest Service has estimated that nearly 3.4 million acres of forest have been in infested in Colorado, including Rocky Mountain National Park.

Below is part 2 in this video series that was produced by Nick Molle for EPTV Channel 8 in Estes Park. Ranger Edwards explains why the beetle has become an epidemic, and what the park is doing to help stop it:





Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

The Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation in Rocky Mountain National Park (Part 1)

If you've been to Rocky Mountain National Park in recent years you've probably noticed a lot of dead lodgepole pine trees throughout the park. This is the unfortunate result of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation, which is impacting forests throughout the western United States. A recent report published by the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado State Forest Service is estimating that nearly 3.4 million acres of forest have been in infested in Colorado since the first signs of the outbreak in 1996.

Below is a video featuring Park Ranger Michael Edwards as he discusses how the infestation is impacting Rocky Mountain National Park. This is part 1 of a two-part video series that was produced by Nick Molle in 2010 for EPTV Channel 8 in Estes Park:


Tomorrow we'll show the final part in this series.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Canyon Lakes Ranger District’s Mountain Pine Beetle Spraying Has Begun - Expect Temporary Closures

Multiple recreation areas will be impacted due to efforts related to the mountain pine beetle epidemic, including hazard tree cutting and spraying more than 9,500 trees.

Contract crews are spraying trees in select campgrounds and day-use areas on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District this spring and summer. Contractors spray Carbaryl and U.S. Forest Service crews monitor operations and conditions. Spraying is very dependent on calm weather, which began April 29th. More than 900 trees have been sprayed to date, but spraying was put on hold today until May 10th due to the snow. Spraying is occurring at these locations:

* Bellaire Campground and Day-use
* Dowdy Campground and Day-use (temporary closure expected)
* Mountain Park Campground and Day-use
* Jacks Gulch Campground
* West Lake Campground and Day-use
* Tunnel Campground

Many of the district’s picnic areas and trailheads could have temporary closures throughout the spring, summer and fall for hazard tree cutting. The Manhattan dispersed camping area and Deadman Lookout Tower could also experience temporary impacts. Check the website or call visitor information specialists at 970-295-6700 before heading out. Also make sure to check the status of roads across the district, as hazard tree cutting activities will continue on Long Draw Road, closing it for the summer and fall, as well as other forest roads.

For the latest status of recreation areas and roads, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/arp or call our visitor information office. The Forest Service will try to keep the public updated of changes through our website and/or twitter account at twitter.com/usfsclrd.

Forest visitors should be extremely cautious when recreating in the Roosevelt National Forest. Avoid patches of dead trees, especially on windy days. Also, make sure to park vehicles and place tents in areas away from dead trees and take a saw or ax with you to remove fallen trees from roads to avoid becoming trapped. Remember, your safety is your responsibility. Dead and live trees can fall without warning. For additional safety information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/hazardtrees.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Wyoming Results of 2012 Forest Health Survey Announced

The U.S. Forest Service and Wyoming State Forestry Division have announced the results of the annual aerial forest health survey for Wyoming. Both the mountain pine beetle and spruce beetle epidemics have declined across Wyoming in 2012. Statewide the number of new acres affected by the mountain pine beetle has declined from 719,000 in 2011 to 180,000 acres in 2012. The total footprint of the outbreak in Wyoming is now 3.4 million acres since 1996. In 2011, the total acreage for the epidemic was 3.3 million acres.

“Our actions today and in years to come will shape the forest of the future. Active forest management on both public and private lands can lead to healthier trees on the landscape and create the diversity necessary to reduce future large-scale insect epidemics.” said Bill Crapser, Wyoming State Forester.

Mountain Pine Beetle:

In south central Wyoming, including the Medicine-Bow National Forest, the aerial survey indicated a decline of mountain pine beetle activity from 378,000 in 2011 to 49,000 acres in 2012 largely due to fewer trees available for beetle infestation.

In western Wyoming, including the Shoshone, Wasatch-Cache and Bridger-Teton national forests, mountain pine beetle activity has declined from 280,000 in 2011 to 83,000 acres in 2012 in lodgepole and 5-needle pines largely due to fewer trees available for beetle infestation.

In north central Wyoming, including the Bighorn National Forest, large areas of forest remain unaffected by mountain pine beetle. In 2012, only 440 acres of mountain pine beetle activity was detected.

Northeast Wyoming, including the Black Hills National Forest, mountain pine beetle activity continues with aerial photograph interpretation detecting 730 acres additional acreage from 2011’s survey.

Spruce Beetle:

Spruce beetle activity has declined from 76,000 in 2011 to 32,000 acres in 2012 statewide. Since 1996, 558,000 acres have been affected by spruce beetle statewide leaving many areas of large dead standing spruce in the high country.

In south central Wyoming, the spruce beetle epidemic is declining leaving large areas of dead standing large spruce in the Sierra Madre, Snowy Range, and Medicine Bow Mountains in Albany and Carbon counties.

In northwestern Wyoming’s Absaroka Mountains in and adjacent to the Shoshone National Forest, spruce beetle continues to kill spruce and many areas have few surviving mature spruce remaining.

The 2012 aerial survey results for Wyoming can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/r2.




Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Protection of High Value Trees and Hazard Mitigation Projects Continue in Rocky Mountain National Park

Bark beetles continue to be active within Rocky Mountain National Park, impacting large numbers of conifer trees. The park's priorities for mitigation of the effects of beetles are focused on removing hazard trees and hazard fuels related to the protection of life and property. For several years, Rocky Mountain National Park has had a proactive bark beetle management program. In recent years, bark beetles have been considered at outbreak levels throughout the park. In 2013, the park will continue its mitigation efforts, including applying insecticide, removing hazard trees, prescribed burns, utilizing an air curtain burner, pheromone treatments and implementing temporary closures in a variety of park locations.

Starting in early April and ending by Memorial Day weekend, the park is planning to protect up to 6,700 high-value trees from bark beetles by applying a Carbaryl-based insecticide. Treatment will occur in the following developed areas of the park: Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and Headquarters, Upper Beaver Meadows Picnic Area, Moraine Park Visitor Center, Kawuneeche Visitor Center, Aspenglen, Moraine Park, and Glacier Basin Campgrounds, Hollowell Park, Mill Creek Ranger Station, Wild Basin Entrance Station, Sprague Lake Picnic Area, Bighorn Ranger Station, McGraw Ranch, Holzwarth Historic Site, Leiffer Cabin, Kaley Cottages, Lumpy Ridge Trailhead, and the east and west side park service housing areas.

Last year, almost 6,600 trees were treated and nearly all of these trees were protected from attack by bark beetles. Additional sites have been expanded on the east side of the park as infestation rates increase in forests adjacent to high value trees. Insecticide will be applied from the ground and sprayed onto individual trees to repel beetle attacks. Temporary closures to the public and employees will be in effect during spraying operations.

The park is also treating up to 300 high value limber pine trees with verbenone pheromone packets to minimize infestation from bark beetles. Limber pine trees in the park are currently at risk of mountain pine beetle infestation and infection from white pine blister rust, a lethal non-native invasive fungus. Research is being conducted to identify if any limber pine trees within the park are resistant to white pine blister rust.

Park staff and contracted resources will continue to conduct hazard tree mitigation, through tree removal, throughout the year. Planned project sites include: Sprague Lake Trail and Picnic Area, selective hazard removal along the Wild Basin corridor, Old Fall River Road, Trail Ridge Road, Glacier Creek Picnic Area, and the Bear Lake Area. Smaller scale, selective hazard tree removals should be anticipated at trailheads, parking areas, picnic areas, roadside pullouts, campgrounds and visitor centers.

Temporary site closures can be expected at smaller sites to facilitate safe and efficient project completion. More detailed information will be provided on upcoming tree removal contracts along Trail Ridge on the west side of the park and possible temporary delays. Material disposal will involve piles for future burning and consolidation at designated sites for future use including firewood collection permits. More information on wood utilization will be available in the summer of 2013.

For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park you can contact the park's Information Office at (970) 586-1206 or visit the park's website section on forest health.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

U.S. Forest Service and Colorado State Forest Service Announce Results of 2012 Aerial Forest Health Survey

Last week the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado State Forest Service released the results of the annual aerial forest health survey in Colorado. The report indicates that the spread of the mountain pine beetle epidemic has slowed dramatically, while the spruce beetle outbreak is expanding.

The mountain pine beetle epidemic expanded by 31,000 acres, down from last year’s reported increase of 140,000 acres. This brings the total infestation to nearly 3.4 million acres in Colorado since the first signs of the outbreak in 1996. Most mature lodgepole pine trees have now been depleted within the initial mountain pine beetle epidemic area. However, the infestation remains active from Estes Park to Leadville.

In contrast, the spruce beetle outbreak is expanding, with 183,000 new acres detected in 2012, bringing the total acreage affected since 1996 to nearly 1 million acres (924,000). The areas experiencing the most significant activity are on the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests in southern Colorado. Spruce beetles typically attack spruce trees downed by high winds. Once the populations of spruce beetles build up in the fallen trees, the stressed trees surrounding them offer little resistance to attack. Similar to mountain pine beetle, the increase in spruce beetle activity is due to factors that increase tree stress, including densely stocked stands, ongoing drought conditions and warmer winters.

In late 2012, two 10-year stewardship contracts were awarded by the U.S. Forest Service to improve forest resiliency on 20,000 acres affected by the mountain pine beetle on the Medicine Bow-Routt and White River National Forests. These contracts are in addition to the Front Range and Pagosa Springs Long-Term Stewardship Contracts awarded previously. The contracts reduce forest health treatment costs and foster new uses of beetle-killed forest products to benefit forest resiliency and jobs.

The forest products industry is better positioned as mills come on line to take advantage of trees being removed from forested lands across Colorado. The U.S. Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service and partners are working to provide a reliable and predictable supply of biomass for new markets.

“Over the past several years, the Forest Service has worked with local, state and private partners to increase our collective ability to improve forest health and reduce wildland fire and public safety risks,” said Dan Jirón, Regional Forester for the U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region.. “From encouraging biomass projects, to aggressively treating beetle-killed trees near communities, and partnering to protect water resources, the Forest Service is working to efficiently fund projects to treat as many priority forested acres as possible.”

Through the passage of legislation in recent years, the Colorado General Assembly has supported forest management actions that demonstrate community-based approaches to forest restoration and watershed health. The Colorado Forest Restoration Pilot Grant Program is a cost-share program that provides funding for up to 60 percent of the total cost for projects. To date, more than $4.7 million in state funds and another $1 million in leveraged federal funds have been awarded to 86 projects across the State. Those funds additionally leveraged more than $8 million in matching funds to restore more than 12,000 acres of forest. In addition, the 17 projects currently in progress will result in treatments on another 1,200 acres.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

Forest Service announces $13.4 million in contracts to improve 20,000 acres of national forest land

Bolstering a long-term strategy to address fuel reduction and overall forest health, USDA Under Secretary Harris Sherman has announced two Forest Service 10-year stewardship contracts totaling $13.4 million.

The two contracts identify projects that will treat a minimum of 20,000 acres in two national forests.

The stewardship contracts are focused on improving the health of subalpine and mountain forests affected by mountain pine beetle on portions of the Medicine Bow-Routt and the White River national forests in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado. The stewardship contracts announced today add to the $100 million the Forest Service directed toward addressing bark beetle infestations in the Rocky Mountain Region since 2010.

The Medicine Bow-Routt Long Term Stewardship Contract was awarded to Confluence Energy of Kremmling, Colo. Confluence Energy’s bid of $4.75 million was awarded based on price and on the company’s technical ability to accomplish forest health projects. Confluence Energy will remove beetle-killed trees and pile or scatter the residual debris that has no commercial value. In areas where the trees have commercial value for wood products such as dimension lumber, wood pellets and other biomass products, Confluence Energy will pay for that material to offset the cost to the government of the other forest health treatments in the contract area.

West Range Reclamation of Hotchkiss, Colo., submitted a winning bid for the White River Long Term Stewardship Contract. West Range Reclamation’s bid of $8.66 million was accepted by the Forest Service based on the company’s ability to meet technical requirements and per-acre price. The contract focuses on the removal of tree species susceptible to insect and disease infestations, including lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, Douglas-fir, Engelmann spruce, aspen and ponderosa pine.

West Range has partnered with Eagle Valley Clean Energy to develop an environmentally sound use for the dead and small-diameter trees – known as woody biomass – that will be removed during fuels reduction and forest health treatments. Eagle Valley Clean Energy is currently planning an 11.5 megawatt woody biomass-fueled power plant in Gypsum, Colo. The electricity generated from the plant will be supplied to Holy Cross Energy, servicing 8,000 to 10,000 homes in Colorado from Parachute to Vail and Glenwood Springs to Aspen. Heat from the plant will also support an adjacent wallboard manufacturing facility. In October, USDA’s Rural Utilities Service announced a $40 million loan guarantee to help finance the plant.

The Rocky Mountain Region of the Forest Service developed a strategy to address the increasing threats to health and safety from the millions of acres with dead trees due to the mountain pine beetle epidemic and the emerging spruce beetle epidemic. The strategy focuses on prioritizing hazardous tree removal, working with partners to reduce risks to infrastructure such as power lines, residences and ski areas and providing up-to-date public information as those activities move forward.

Since the mountain pine beetle epidemic began in the late 1990s, more than 1.7 million acres of lodgepole pine and ponderosa pine forests on the Medicine Bow-Routt and White River National Forests have been affected. Estimates are that on average approximately 70 to 80 percent of the mature trees have been killed to date. As the dead trees fall, experts predict an increase in wildfire severity which would result in a degradation of our watersheds and in turn negatively affect municipal water quality and other national forest resources.

Stewardship contracting allows the Forest Service to apply the value of timber or other forest products removed from national forests as an offset against the cost of non-income generating treatments such as thinning or hazardous fuel removal. Learn more about stewardship contracting at the Forest Service restoration website.


Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com