HomeMy WebLinkAbout20070928.tiff FOREST
SERVICE
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Colorado State University
Fort Collins,Colorado 80523-5060
(970)491-6303
FAX:(970)491-7736
March 19, 2007
Dear Reader:
Attached for your consideration is the 2006 Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS)
Annual Report. This document is a celebration of the accomplishments which are moving
us steadily toward achieving our strategic priorities.
Highlighted in this document are: wildfire preparedness and community wildfire
protection planning; mitigation and thinning projects to enhance forest health;
conservation education efforts and events; partnerships and critical agency relationships;
innovative development of resources to support effective program delivery; and activities
that enrich CSFS' organizational environment.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this document or any
of the many CSFS programs.
Sincerely,
Jeff Jahnke
Director, Colorado State Forest Service
Enclosure: 2006 CSFS Annual Report
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Reflections on 2006
This document is a m • Participation in forestry issues by those who
celebration of the successes e:r have not traditionally come to the table is increasingly
of the Colorado State Forest common,as exemplified in recent years by the Front
Service (CSFS) over the Range Fuels Treatment Partnership Roundtable,the
past year.Our organization Northern Colorado Bark Beetle Cooperative,and
continues to evolve steadily multiple ongoing collaborations across the state in
in a direction that will l community wildfire protection planning.Citizens
achieve our strategic "r are recognizing their rights and responsibilities
ti priorities.The evolution is 1 toward improved forest health and adequate wildfire
occurring on many levels, ��A protection and are adding their voices to the decision-
? including: Jeff Jahnke, Director making process.
• In 2006, wildfire • The CSFS evolution also involves an increasing
preparedness received significant support from the number of younger foresters as a major force in CSFS.
Colorado Legislature.A Wildfire Preparedness Fund This cadre is one of our greatest strengths and well
• was created,and $3.25 million appropriated per year worth celebrating.They are emerging from academic
for the next five years,to implement annual Wildfire instruction with a broader,overall focus on forestry
Preparedness Plans.This legislation will significantly issues.This is a significant change from an earlier
increase our effectiveness in protecting lives and model of"getting out in the woods and marking trees"
property throughout Colorado. (although,of course,foresters still love to do that).
• CSFS was challenged in 2005,both internally They are joining us with the skills necessary for 21st
and externally,in bringing the Community Wildfire century forestry and are motivated by a new way of
Protection Plan (CWPP) concept to fruition. working toward achieving healthy forest conditions.
However,2006 saw a groundswell of activity • One of our greatest successes last year was the
throughout the state.Communities and individuals institution of the area forester concept.As a result of
are grasping the importance of planning and the examining the CSFS structure and identifying both
effectiveness of this tool in protecting communities forestry and personnel needs,CSFS functionally
from wildfire.As with the adoption of any new idea, divided the state into northern and southern regions.
this one took time—but 2006 results were extremely We have found this new approach to be a huge success
encouraging. organizationally.
• CSFS also is undergoing an evolution from a Evolution is a dynamic process,as are forested
traditional model of forestry—serving the public ecosystems.CSFS will continue to evolve to address
one-on-one as technical advisors—to being a leader forest health and fire protection effectively in
in maintaining Colorado's forests. No longer can we Colorado,and we,too,will remain dynamic.This is
merely disseminate information;we must ask the the core of our strength and also of our success.
question,"What should be happening to improve The successes of 2006 are due to the contributions
the conditions of Colorado's forests?"As a result,we of each of our dedicated employees and the support
are emphasizing more collaborative efforts with our of our invaluable partners.We thank you very much
partners,other agencies, researchers,and individuals. and look forward to 2007.
These relationships serve to promote, focus,and
interpret ongoing research to apply to ground-level
forestry activities.
„.`j Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report
I `
Strategic Priority:
Fire preparedness and response
Provide leadership in wildland fire protection for state and private lands in Colorado
and reduce wildfire-related loss of life, property, and critical resources.
Wildfire Preparedness Receives Support
from the Colorado Legislature
Wildfire preparedness received significant support
from the 2006 session of the Colorado Legislature.
Introduced as Senate Bill 096 (SB 96) by Senator Jack t ith!
Taylor, with wide support in the House and Senate, *_ i
the General Assembly directed the creation of a
Wildfire Preparedness Fund in the State'Freasury and
also appropriated$3.25 million per year for the next ,
five years to implement annual Wildfire Preparedness
Plans.
oiler
An annual Wildfire Preparedness Plan is developed ,
by a collaborative group comprising the state
forester,a representative of the County Sheriffs of Flames from the Big Fish Fire threatened historic cabins
near Steamboat Springs in 2002, Colorado's worst fire
Colorado,a representative of the Colorado State Fire
season on record.
Chiefs'Association,the director of the Division of
Emergency Management,and the adjutant general
or his or her designee.The Colorado State Forest from becoming large catastrophic events and will
Service implements the plan,drawing on the Wildfire assist in the containment and suppression of those
Preparedness Fund. wildfires that do escape initial attack.
Prior to SB 96,funding for the availability of state Wildfires occur as unscheduled emergency events
preparedness resources was not specifically dedicated in wildland fuels (prairie or forest vegetation)
and therefore not consistently available for long-term and also in fuels that include a combination of
contracting or staffing of wildland response resources. wildland and human-introduced fuels (houses and
The significance of SB 96 is in the consistency it improvements).Wildfires involve or threaten human
provides for acquiring long term aviation contracts, life, residential housing and other improvements,
staffing wildland fire engines,supporting National and natural resources. Due to natural fuels build-
Guard resources,and training and using Colorado up and increased population in wildland urban
Department of Corrections State Wildland Inmate interface areas,wildfires that exceed the control efforts
Fire Teams. In wildland fire management,consistency of local and county resources are becoming more
in the availability of resources leads to increased common and more complex.Wildland firefighting
efficiencies and effectiveness in response to wildland in Colorado is interagency in nature involving state,
fires. county,local,federal,and tribal partners.Colorado
Having state wildfire resources identified,staffed, State Forest Service is lead state agency for wildland
and positioned to respond will prevent some wildfires fire as identified in the Colorado State Emergency
Operations Plan.
Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report ,
II
•
Making Strides in Community Wildfire "f #� :'' �4 •
Protection Planning
z
After a challenging beginning in the development ae i 1'
of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP)
in Colorado, many groups and communities began
to embrace the concept in 2006. The upsurge of , �
completed plans,as well as those in progress, has ' .
..,
risen dramatically. Planning processes have followed `
several models including subdivision"spark plugs
') *Ni
who initiated plan development; a Cooperative
Extension director who facilitated the process;
and a homeowners association that revised its _p ,
Forest Stewardship Plan to include the necessary •
components of a CWPP.The plans also cover a wide Resident Diana Novacek conducts a tour of the Santa Fe
geographic area and diverse demographic types. Trail Ranch Estates during the subdivision's community
All the plans follow Colorado's minimum wildfire protection planning process.
standards,and CSFS foresters,local emergency
managers,and representatives of local government
were involved in all processes detailed below. Mauricio Canyon Fire
• Santa Fe Trail Ranch Estates near Trinidad On Saturday,January 7,2006, nature underscored
completed its CWPP last year,due in large part to the fact that wildland fires can occur year-round.
two residents, Dave Skogberg and Diana Novacek, The last snow in south central Colorado had
who were unflagging in their promotion of FireWise been in November 2005.Two pile burns,which had
practices and community wildfire protection planning. been conducted months earlier when snow covered
• At the Woodmoor subdivision near Monument, the ground,flared up; normally, in January,snow
community members took the opportunity to add would be piled two to three feet high.The fire spread
elements of a CWPP as they revised their Forest rapidly in winds that exceeded 70 miles per hour.
Stewardship Plan. Homeowners in the Big Horn subdivision,near
•The Buckskin Heights CWPP process was driven Aguilar in Las Animas County,had only one road
by local residents,and meetings were facilitated by out—directly in the face of the rapidly advancing fire.
Emily Saeli,a graduate student in CSU's Department Sunday night the weather had changed
of Forest, Rangeland,and Watershed Stewardship. dramatically; it was snowing,but the fire also was still
•Three CWPPs have been completed in Jackson burning. By Wednesday,January 11,the snow had
County due to the facilitation skills of Deb Alpe,a melted and the fire made a small run back to the west
local Cooperative Extension director responsible for toward national forest lands. Finally,on January 16,
community capacity development. control of the fire had been returned to Las Animas
Approaching the planning through a mixture of and Huerfano counties.
process models demonstrates that these plans can be The Mauricio Canyon Fire started in Huerfano
developed at a variety of levels and through diverse County and spread into Las Animas County,burning
courses of action. It also depicts the flexibility and almost 4,000 acres and destroying five homes and
adaptability necessary to address the needs of the 10 outbuildings.Costs for fire suppression exceeded
community. $500,000.The fire was an important lesson for
We congratulate the communities that have taken Colorado:Wildland fires can occur at any time,
this critical step toward protecting lives and property especially during drought conditions.
from wildfire.
'•' I..,a Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report
Strategic Priority:
Healthy, diverse, and sustainable forest conditions
Ensure healthy, diverse, and sustainable forest conditions
on a meaningful scale throughout Colorado.
Front Range Fuels Treatment Lory State Park Fuel Mitigation
Partnerships Projects on the Golden In May 2006,a fuels reduction and dwarf mistletoe
District removal project was completed in Lory State Park.
The CSFS Golden District completed several The project,implemented by the CSFS Fort Collins
successful projects within the Front Range Fuels District,encompassed 67 acres.The location of
Treatment Partnership (FRFTP) area during the project within the park is strategic;the area is
2006. Several hundred acres were treated for fuels bordered on two sides by private property and is on
mitigation on Denver Mountain Parks,Colorado the west side—the direction of the prevailing winds
Division of Wildlife,Colorado State Land Board, in the area.Fuel reduction in this unit not only will
Jefferson County School District,and private lands.
These treatments reduced wildfire hazard,enhanced
big game habitat, improved forest health,reduced t
insect/disease outbreak potential,and restored forest �� � r
1
structure to more historical regimes.The projects ,i � , � ct
were implemented via a combination of contracted
services,seasonal field crews, local fire department
personnel,and private landowners. Projects included: G�, ,
• Reducing wildfire hazards and enhancing big
game habitat on 198 acres of Mt. Evans State Wildlife �
1 o
Area in Clear Creek County near Evergreen.
• Reducing wildfire hazards and improving forest
health on 140 acres at Windy Peak Outdoor Education 6 p i F•rest M•n• • merit
Laboratory School near Bailey. In addition,the site
provides an opportunity for school children to learn Fu-Lr-.k units
Thinnin. units �i
the value of forest health and fire mitigation. c ,y% �
• Completing more than 30 acres of fuels ;� `I- /
reduction and ponderosa pine restoration work at � � _z o
Cub Creek Park (a Denver Mountain Park) in a very
s o
visible area near downtown Evergreen. Many residents - �� ��
have commented on the positive, post-treatment
aesthetics of the park.
` �- Treated May 2006
•Working with a private landowner and using the
Jefferson County fuels mitigation grant program to ter.,"
establish an eight-acre fuelbreak near Pine Junction.
• Providing insect and disease treatment on five /j ti-
) �,,
acres of a degenerating lodgepole pine stand in
Staunton State Park near Conifer.
Map of the treatment area in Lory State Park.
, `
Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report F•;
CSFS Foresters Use Latest Technology to
i ur �yt Inventory an Urban Forest
Most foresters are familiar with the use of
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global
Positioning Systems (()PS) in traditional forestry
applications such as mapping, forest stands, treatment
. : , • A' areas, property boundaries, roads,or other forest
features. The use of this technology in recent years
has greatly improved both the accuracy and ease with
which CSFS accomplishes field work. Using GIS and
,A ` r +" GPS also can greatly facilitate the management of
„ _ r • r our urban forests. Recently,the CSFS Grand Junction
Iy� District completed in inventory of the City of Aspen's
'-, Mt; ° ' •-re •,4 ' ; publicly owned street and park trees.
. , a (Y. i ,� As with any forest,proper management of the
tt° s_ fr urban forest begins with a solid inventory of what is
Jq present and what the major management concerns
4 P are.Trees in the urban forest have special values as a
component of landscaping and can greatly enhance
Some trees at Lory State Park were girdled. These trees, property values.Street tree inventories are seen
which eventually will die, will enhance wildlife habitat by
serving as food sources and nesting sites. by city foresters as essential in order to schedule
maintenance,to ensure proper forest diversity,and to
manage potential liability issues from"hazard"trees.
decrease the chance of a fire spreading from the Having street tree information available in a GIS
private land to the park's interior,but also will make format also allows viewing of public tree information
it easier for a fire in the park to be contained before it on city maps in relation to other infrastructure such
spreads to private land. as buildings,pipelines, utility lines,or street signs.
Many of the ponderosa pines in this unit were CSFS commonly assists communities with street
heavily infested with dwarf mistletoe; however, tree inventories;three previous inventories completed
infestation here was not as extensive as in other areas for Aspen in the early and mid-1990s were done
of the park,making control of the parasite relatively with hard-copy maps and paper forms,which were
simple on this particular project.To control the dwarf then transcribed into computer-aided drafting and
mistletoe parasite,small clearcuts were created where database programs.The latest inventory used high-
dwarf mistletoe infested all of the trees. In stands resolution aerial imagery provided by the city to
where the mistletoe infestation was not as extensive pinpoint tree locations. Handheld devices were used
or was nonexistent, individual trees or groups of trees to directly enter the inventory data digitally.The
were removed to reduce fuels. data then was imported directly into a GIS mapping
For wildlife habitat enhancement,between two program,effectively eliminating paper forms and data
and five large-diameter infested trees per acre were transcription.
girdled—a method that kills the tree but leaves it
standing—to be used as food sources and nesting
sites. Most of the previously dead standing trees also
were left for use by wildlife.
Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report
a
Each tree within the city's right-of-way,or within a or, +t,
public park,was examined to determine species,size, y, 4 ' ,, y '. W:r '
, r
condition,and pruning or other management needs. �
s \.% •
(:SFS foresters collected data for more than 7,000 city- °l�� , + ttti�, �t II s "?i°
owned trees along 27 miles of right-of-way and in 35 Aga + ° a: • • .-j• 'ti
parks. Potential planting locations were identified and 4a
"...fib
coded for the appropriate sized tree that should be `
planted. A major part of this inventory also included a
special hazard assessment of more than 650 large trees '
t
in order to determine a defect rating. 1 d 4 .4, 'y, raw
The new street tree inventory has created a detailed
and comprehensive data layer for the city of Aspen s -
that is easy to understand, flexible,and compatible y
with their existing system; the inventory also can be --. , ,.,.,;
�o.
easily updated. It will be a great tool for Aspen's city Mechanical fuel reduction often is accomplished by
forester in the management of the community's forest hydro-axe.
for many years to come.
Montrose District Conducts Fuels
''`` o .. �.r ' Mitigation Project
�1 /
+ '.
- The CSFS Montrose District is conducting
A.-pOl
a a hazardous fuels mitigation project on private
_. . ;y ' ti ' properties in Ouray County.Thinning and
rai F mastication a mechanical fuel reduction technique
.14 . •y fit
that shreds brush and small-diameter trees—of select
`Pt t + : pinon pine,juniper,and gamhel oak trees will be
accomplished with a hydro-axe.
s\a e r` Implementation of this project,with cost-share
i �. s"� and technical assistance provided the Montrose
V L '7t-•yni. , ' 1k�
if District,will safeguard against the spread of wildfire
Gi
i 7 di .., •
. :tfrom Uncompahgre National Forest to private
ty property.Although the purpose of the thinning is to
Zvi ' 4 reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire spread along
( i• these boundaries, there are added benefits to certain
�.6t {_,, 't 1� '9 .,' ,/•,,; V wildlife species through alteration of forest structure.
U Y' 7. a 't r� Seeding of critical project areas for wildlife habitat
11
improvement will be done with the help of donations
' + from Safari Club International and in conjunction
with the Shavano Conservation District.Technical
assistance for seeding will be provided by the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
L k, /-:i r/-4. r"' t : The CSFS and NRCS are assessing the interest level
-, k - " of local landowners to implement forest management
4 :4 -,r ,,1 f practices to improve forest health,create defensible
"� space,and improve wildlife habitat.
4 -2;14
Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report E+,
f
•
Swayback/Jenny Gulch Timber Sale
The S rvback/Jenny Gulch Timber Sale is Phase w Swayback/Jenny
II of the Swayback/Jenny Gulch Good Neighbor
Project. The project is a joint effort of the Colorado
State Forest Service, Denver Water, Front Range Fuels -
Treatment Partnership, and USDA Forest Service. i;
The work is being done on Denver Water and USDA c�• - - �)� ., 0- "";,k
A .tS r -.n..�1.M • �fl4 i •{l�T
Forest Service lands; the Colorado State Forest Service . d� �.«.
ii
is managing the projectthroughan agreement with w 3.r4� .t;rb is7, 1
the two organizations.The total project area is more . .,, ��
than d00 acres; actual harvest activityx+,�
ttvity currently is . .* ,-- *W k - ' •s
occurring on a portion of those acres. fz
The purpose of the project is to restore ponderosa
pine forests to more closely resemble pre-settlement = }
conditions, to improve forest health,and to reduce
I Restored ponderosa pine forest in the Trumbull-
wildfire hazards.That means less dense tree stands, Swayback Demonstration Forest.
more open tree canopies,diverse age and species
composition,and less Douglas fir.
The prescription for treatment in this area was Openings were an integral part of ponderosa pine
developed by scientists and foresters who have ecosystems during the presettlement era. Current
studied the historical forest landscape at Cheesman research has concluded that openings distributed
Reservoir for more than 10 years to determine how across the landscape in specific patterns can be
presettlement conditions looked.Cheesman was a strategy to slow the spread of wildfire through
studied because the occurrence of logging was limited tree crowns and aid suppression efforts.As part of
during the presettlement period,and cattle grazing the ongoing research of the Trumbull-Swayback
has not occurred for more than 100 years. Demonstration Forest,the partners are implementing
concepts developed by the Fire Sciences Laboratory in
Missoula, Montana,to determine the effectiveness and
__ visual impacts of the placement of openings on the
1 f landscape,as well as test methodologies for creating
I— them.
` x.
• Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report
Strategic Priority:
Education, communication, outreach, and policy
Address the growing public demand for information and promote informed
decision making on natural resource issues by positioning CSFS as a recognized
point-of-contact for Colorado on credible forestry and wildland fire information,
expertise, and technical assistance.
Outstanding Forest Steward of the Year k� Ni '" •••••••"!fir
Teaches Kids of All Ages
Bill Carpenter wanted to create a place where kids
' r•' re ,
c�� 4
could conic to play in the great outdoors,learn about , -,�`' r► '�'
the wonders of nature,express their creativity,and r`r �=_
work with their hands. But when Carpenter refers to ‘� i
kids,age isn't a factor. He still believes that a little bit s
of the child lives in everyone, regardless of age. ft .: ___
As 70 students from Coal Creek Canyon K-8 +
School and parent volunteers,teachers,and the y , r'
principal descended on the Carpenter Mountain —11/4`ate '
Demonstration Forest for a tour of the interpretive
� ,I 5 I
trail on April 19,2006, it was apparent that Carpenter -�
is right. d -: tati `
With help from the Colorado State Forest Service, ''
USDA Forest Service,American Forest Foundation,
and others,Carpenter created the interpretive trail a x r ' ¢
system in 2005.Since then,he has, upon request,
opened the trail to fellow landowners and various Jan Hackett, CSFS Forest Stewardship Program
coordinator,presents Bill Carpenter with the 2005
groups and organizations for training and educational Outstanding Forest Steward award.
purposes. He also enthusiastically welcomes youth to
visit—and experience—everything that nature has to
offer. honored Carpenter for his active forest management
Carpenter's experience on his own bit of forest and promotion of forest stewardship.
began when he purchased 270 acres in 1984. From Colorado State Forester Jeff Jahnke selects the
the start,he wanted to restore and maintain the recipient each year based on recommendations
health of his forested land,improve wildlife habitat by the Colorado Forest Stewardship Coordinating
and forage—and create the kind of views for which Committee.
Colorado is famous. His vision has become a lifelong "Mr.Carpenter embodies the spirit of the forest
endeavor that earned him the 2005 Outstanding stewardship program,"said Jahnke."Not only does
Forest Steward of the Year Award. he actively manage his forest land to achieve health,
In a surprise ceremony at the Carpenter Mountain vigor,and productivity,he also has opened his
Demonstration Forest last April,the Colorado Forest property to other landowners,school children,and
Stewardship Coordinating Committee,along with the general public to help them understand why it's
the students from Coal Creek Canyon K-8 School, important to manage our forests."
Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report ,-A ilk.,
Surprised by the award,Carpenter thanked the formed a partnership to develop an unbiased and
committee but quickly turned to the students and scientifically and educationally sound program for
• asked if they had any ideas they'd like to share with elementary and secondary students and their teachers.
him to improve the learning experience.One young The partners designed PEE to be shared through
student signaled to Carpenter that he had an idea trained facilitators (educators, resource managers,
or two he'd like to share and asked Carpenter to or other interested people) who,in turn, train
give him a call. Carpenter was delighted.To him, others in how to most effectively and efficiently use
there's no greater measure of success than to know the curriculum and materials.The first workshops
that he inspired a kid—no matter what age—to were held in the 13 states that made up the Western
think creatively about what he or she had seen and Regional Environmental Education Council.
experienced while on his property. PEE continuously evaluates and updates its
curriculum to ensure that it meets educator and
student needs.The program meets state and national
Project Learning Tree Celebrates education standards in science,social studies,
30 Years of Excellent Education language arts,math,and other subjects—and
The Colorado State Forest Service celebrated strengthens students'critical thinking,team building,
30 years of an award-winning,multidisciplinary and problem-solving skills.'I'opics range from forests,
environmental education program in 2006. Project wildlife,and water to community planning,waste
Learning Tree (PLT) is a program for educators and management,and energy.
students from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12
and is one of the most widely used environmental
education programs in the United States and abroad. CAEE-Strategic Partnership for
Environmental Education
Education is a conduit for fostering the public's Jig knowledge, understanding,critical evaluation,and
decision-making skills concerning Colorado's forests.
Just as trees are part of a larger ecosystem,CSFS is a
partner in a larger education effort—the Colorado
-*LT The Cornerstone for Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE).
Environmental Education A comprehensive network of schools, nonprofit
groups,public agencies,universities,businesses,
citizen groups,and volunteer organizations provide
Colorado's environmental education.These programs
take place in urban,suburban, rural,and wilderness
PLT is CSFS'flagship program for reaching
settings and incorporate a wide range of educational
younger audiences via workshops for K-12 educators.
approaches from informal experiential learning to
Colorado natural resource educators helped create formal classroom lessons reaching thousands of youth
PLT in 1973,and the Colorado program has been and adult learners each year. Ultimately,any and all
coordinated by CSFS since 1984,training 500 to 800 of the specific forestry and resource conservation
educators annually. education efforts accomplished by CSFS exist within
PLT began in 1976 when natural resource that overall learning context.Thus,the strategic
managers and educators from the American Forest
Partnership between CSFS and CAEE increases
Institute (now the American Forest Foundation) and
the capacity of both organizations to support all
Western Regional Environmental Education Council forms of environmental education and increase the
(now the Council of Environmental Education) effectiveness and quality of education available.
)r Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report
Strategic Priority:
Critical agency relationships
Enable CSFS to foster and/or maintain credibility and thrive in a changing administrative
and political environment through increased emphasis on building and maintaining
relationships with the Governor's Office, Colorado State University, Colorado Department
of Natural Resources and other key local, state, and federal partners and by meeting
the needs of those partners through quality service.
Making the Connection on the Salida It was a solid beginning in the development of
District stronger working relationships among the many
people who play a role in achieving healthier forests.
How do we recruit and then retain those The 2006 meeting was just a start;plans are underway
professionals who buy forest products and timber for another gathering in 2007 entitled"Working
sales?With rising fuel costs,will transportation costs Together."
keep us from selling as much wood and thereby
limit the amount of work we can accomplish toward
improving forest health? Joint Fire Science Project Advisory Team
Those questions were tackled by the CSFS Salida
District and the Leadville and Salida Ranger Districts Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs)
of the U.S. Forest Service,San Isabel National Forest, are an important means of reducing risk to
in the winter of 2005.With the mountain pine beetle communities and ecosystems of catastrophic wildfires.
carving out large swaths of lodgepole pine"on the Enhancing collaboration and building community
other side of the hill,"there was a good chance many capacity are viewed as a means to ensure that these
loggers would be heading north.The goal was to keep plans are responsive to the needs and objectives of
communities located in the wildland-urban interface.
them in the Arkansas Valley,so the Salida District
and two USFS Ranger Districts teamed up to host a A Joint Fire Science applied research project called
gathering of forest landowners, harvesters,and wood Enhancing Collaboration and Building Community
processors for a daylong event in February 2006. Capacity is analyzing the lessons learned about
"Making the Connection"was the theme,and collaborative processes among approximately ten
the goal was to introduce landowners to harvesters CWPP development processes.These case studies
and harvesters to wood processors through the day's are taking place in California,Colorado, Florida,
events: Minnesota,and Oregon.
• Public and private landowners disclosed the As part of the project,implementers from the five
type of wood and volume they needed to cut for the states were recruited to be a part of an advisory team
coming year,and wood processors shared what type to:
of product they made and the type of wood they • Help the research team identify the relevant
needed. issues that are of greatest concern to local
•Attendees learned about efforts in Leadville to communities and managers who are developing and
use biomass for heating. implementing CWPPs and monitoring results.
• There was an introduction to lumber grading. •Provide input in creating guidance material that
•The Colorado Timber Industry Association will be used within the broader fire management
community to address CWPP development and track
shared what was happening at the state level.
their accomplishments.
Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report • ,''_
t.
• Assist in building general awareness for this In the absence of natural cycles of wildfire or
V
Joint Fire Science project through the members' other disturbance, forest management treatments
organizations and their related networks. can increase age diversity,decrease competition,and
• Recommend how best to increase the transfer improve overall resilience among forest stands. But
of knowledge about the key results of the project this action needs to occur prior to an insect epidemic
through mechanisms like professional development, in order to be most effective.
education and training workshops,and outreach.
Two CSFS foresters are taking part in this project
as members of the advisory team to help the scientists Bark Beetle Cooperative
move research to the point of implementation;to gain Bark beetles are infesting and killing trees in
new knowledge in lessons learned and ways to move Colorado's northern and central forests on an
community wildfire protection planning forward; unprecedented scale.More than 700,000 acres
and to share experiences with implementers from the were infested by the end of 2006.Concerns about
other four states. the threats posed by dead forests—wildfire risk to
communities and watersheds,loss of key wildlife
III
habitats,and impacts to local economies and
2005 Forest Health Report p infrastructure—prompted the development of the
The 2005 Report on the Health of Colorado's Forests, Bark Beetle Cooperative.
released in February 2006,highlights the The Bark Beetle Cooperative was developed in
ecology and management of response to a meeting initiated by representatives
the state's aspen of the Colorado State Forest Service and the USDA
forests and Forest Service (USFS).The event,conducted in
provides an October 2005,was organized to determine the local-
expanded level interest in developing a coordinated response
insect and to the bark beetle outbreak.At that time,the area
disease '°°� of concern comprised five counties in northern
r.
update,with a Colorado: Grand,Summit, Eagle,Jackson,and Routt.
aeis
particular focus ot The cooperative developed"A Strategy for Action
on the mountain t and Assessment of the Bark Beetle Situation"in
pine k, s February 2006.This document identified values at
pine beetle 7
and spruce bark • " risk,barriers to implementing a comprehensive bark
beetle outbreaks beetle strategy,recent beetle activity,and assumptions
spreading for future beetle activity.
throughout CSFS worked with local officials to identify priority
Colorado's central areas for treatment.After the areas were mapped,
mountains.Both CSFS,USFS,the Bureau of Land Management,and
sections of the report underscore the need to address the Northwest Council of Governments met with the
forest management in a proactive,rather than five counties individually to review priority areas. In
reactive,manner. late 2006,five additional counties expressed interest in
Many researchers and land managers attribute participating in the cooperative: Lake,Park,Chaffee,
the size and intensity of bark beetle activity,at least Clear Creek,and Pitkin.
partially,to the lack of age diversity in lodgepole pine 2007 promises to be an eventful year for this
and some spruce and ponderosa pine forests.This collaborative effort.
condition leaves forests extremely vulnerable to bark
beetle attack.
" • 1;•-•;7, Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report
•
it
Strategic Priority:
Foundations for effective program delivery
Maintain an effective foundation of administrative, planning, and development functions
that provides the agency with the resources, direction, and support needed to remain
focused on strategic priorities and to deliver the services and programs essential
to Colorado.
FEMA Grant to Reduce Wildfire Risk
The Colorado State Forest Service recently was
•
awarded a Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant for Colorado
Watershed Mitigation and Flood Risk Reduction.
The $3.3 million will fund wildfire risk reduction
projects in seven state parks along the Front Range
over the next three years.The$2.5 million grant
will be matched with $800,000 of value provided by
Colorado State Parks and CSFS to create fuel breaks,
conduct forest thinning operations,and perform -
prescribed burns at seven Colorado state parks: •
• Cheyenne Mountain State Park
• Eldorado Canyon State Park
• Golden Gate Canyon State Park Staunton State Park is one of the areas that will undergo
• Lory State Park wildfire risk reduction efforts through the Pre-Disaster
Mitigation Grant.
• Mueller State Park
• Roxborough State Park
• Staunton State Park "A grant of this nature that takes a proactive
In awarding this highly competitive grant to CSFS, approach to protecting the watersheds,homes,and
FEMA recognized the potential of severe flooding and forests of the Front Range is unprecedented in the
debris flows following intense wildfire, in addition state of Colorado,"said Colorado State Parks Director
to the destruction caused by wildfire alone. Projects Lyle Laverty."I applaud the hard work by Colorado
like this reduce the overall risks to the population and State Forest Service staff,as well as FEMAs progressive
structures,while also reducing the reliance on funding vision."
from actual disaster declarations. Fuels mitigation
plans in place for these parks and their strategic
locations within Front Range watersheds were critical
to their being included in this project.
Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report i
r -
Strategic Priority:
Organizational environment
Cultivate and sustain an organizational environment that promotes the development and
retention of core skills needed to achieve strategic priorities and delivery of programs; that
recognizes and values employees' critical role in agency accomplishment; and that allows
employees to meet their full potential in providing excellent public service.
CSFS 2006 Training Academy Volunteer Program Continues Excellent
In an effort to more efficiently expend the agency's Service
training dollars and time spent by employees in Volunteers continue to play an integral role in the
professional development,CSFS held the first week- Colorado State Forest Service and have served the
long,agency-wide training academy in February 2006. agency in many capacities over the last several years.
For five days,CSFS employees descended upon Volunteer projects in 2006 ranged from large,multi-
various training sites throughout Fort Collins. day projects coordinated through the Volunteer Forest
Subjects addressed included GIS point-of-contact Steward (VFS) program to small,one-time projects
introduction;contract administration; forest organized by CSFS district personnel.
inventory techniques and best management practices; The VFS program provided experiential learning,
silvicultural lectures on various forest types by forestry-related training,and professional and
professors from the Department of Forest,Rangeland, personal development for volunteers in 2006.
and Watershed Stewardship in the Warner College of Volunteer projects encompassed more than 15
Natural Resources at CSU;collaboration and working project-days—more than 2,000 volunteer hours.
with partners;beginning and advanced supervision; Each volunteer event included at least one learning
Excel,Word,Access,and PowerPoint proficiencies; component. For example,a project held in Black
and many more.Topics were determined by Forest,Colorado,in conjunction with the CSFS
CSFS employee input and individual professional Woodland Park District, involved thinning young
development plans.Sessions were further refined by
supervisors,leadership staff,and adherence to our
strategic priorities and agency needs.
In the end,96 hours of training were offered and �.
more than 70 employees attended, totalling 1,594
� ,� , ,r•,
hours of training. Positive feedback and the academy's
success led to the decision to make this an annual 4;R„,••• 4 s 4'"'
event. " "`
4 s
Volunteers burn slash piles at Ben Delatour Scout Camp.
'"Se! Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report
•
ponderosa pine stands and included an introduction
to the Timber Stand Improvement model, wildland
fire fuels reduction, habitat improvements,and Financial Statement
chainsaw safety.
Increasing numbers of Colorado State University Expense
students are participating on CSFS volunteer events. Salary, Wage& Benefits $7,337,113
CSU students accounted for more than 120 of the Travel $378,547
volunteer days implemented by the program in 2006. Operating $11,989,819
Capital $366,500
Student-related volunteer projects involve experiential Indirect/ Utilities $2,190,786
learning in many aspects of forestry including tree Total Expense $22,262,766
planting, trail building,forest restoration,wildland Revenue
fire,and firewood production.Volunteer events
State $(3,704,343)
provide opportunities for students to understand Cash $(5,702,228)
the role of CSFS,learn and practice forestry-related Federal $(12,856,194)
skills, network with professionals in their chosen field, Total Revenue $(22,262,766)
and build camaraderie with other students interested Fire Reimbursements $(2,825,992)
in service-learning.CSFS is continually developing #of Employees 126
strategies to engage CSU students; the volunteer
program is a great tool to do just that.
The volunteer program generated more $30,000 in
in-kind grant-matching dollars in 2006.Though not
actual money,this in-kind match helps improve forest
conditions by helping grant recipients who receive
federal dollars to implement forest improvement
projects. For example,the VFS program held five
workdays at the Ben Delatour Scout Camp in a
project involving wildland fuels mitigation in the
camp's ponderosa pine forest.The volunteer hours
generated at the Boy Scout camp contributed more
than $6,875 in in-kind match for the camp's grant.
Additional program accomplishments included
a software update for database management, newly
forged partnerships with Larimer County Emergency
Services and Colorado Outdoor Training Initiative,
recruitment and retention of new volunteers,and
successful volunteer event coordination with two
CSFS districts that the VFS program has not served in
recent years: La Junta and Alamosa.
Colorado State Forest Service 2006 Annual Report ta
114
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