Hey All Franktown residents,
This letter is to homeowners in Pinewood Knolls, which is just southeast of Deerfield, but all of us living in forested areas need to know this information and to take action. Although this year has been much wetter than normal, our falls and future seasons can be very dry. And, as this spring season has shown us, we can have incredible lighting storms. Please read the info below, maybe we need to set up some community meetings for Franktown HOAs.
06/10/2009
Pinewood Knolls Homeowners
This letter is a follow up to my site visit/assessment in the Pinewood Knolls Subdivision on June 5th, 2009. Following is a summary of my forest health (insect and disease and fuels) assessment for the Pinewood Knolls Subdivision:
1.) Insect and Disease:
- There is low to severe levels of Ponderosa Pine Needleminer throughout the subdivision area. This insect will not kill the tree however it will make the tree’s mature needles to die off starting at the tip to about midway down on the needle itself and then eventually kill of the entire needle—thus the name “Needleminer”. The small larvae mine out the mature needles and then emerge from the needle and turn into moths. Again this will not kill the tree but it will take a year or more for your tree to recover and shed the dead needles (depends on the severity). We found this insect spiked in activity throughout the Front Range in the spring of 2008 and suspect that what we are seeing this spring, is the signs and symptoms of last year’s infestation. At this point just make sure your tree’s are vigorous and healthy and let the tree’s recover from this pest.
IPs Bark Beetle: There were several isolated trees and pockets of trees that have been or were recently infested by the IPs Bark Beetle. The IPs beetle is in the same family as the Mountain Pine Beetle that is ravaging the central and northern Rockies however, the IPs beetle is not at all as aggressive as MPB. They are natural in the environment (as well as MPB) and are considered to be nature’s forest sanitizer. They generally attack newly transplanted trees or stressed, sick or damaged mature trees. They typically kill 1-5 trees in an area. It’s rare they kill large patches of trees-however it’s not unheard of-however it’s usually in areas of very high concentrations of MPB and IPs.
**** I recommend that trees that have recently been attacked, if possible, to be removed ASAP (IPs flight begins around Mid-May). If you have them cut down make sure all of the slash is removed and disposed of or chipped on site. Do not leave piles sitting around too long b/c that will attract the beetle. Also make sure the tree itself is removed entirely. If you can’t remove the tree immediately have it bucked up into manageable lengths (4-6ft.) and stack a couple feet high and cover entirely with clear plastic, preferably in an open sunny area. OR buck up and split into firewood and cover with clear plastic. I would keep the wood covered until the end of September. OR remove it from the area.
The beetle can still fly out of the tree/logs even after it has been cut down. Also, freshly cut logs attract the beetle to the area and they can infest healthy trees nearby or re-infect the downed tree/logs.
***** Treat trees near and in close proximity of infested pockets and or “high-value” trees with Preventive Spraying Treatments. I recommend this done by a professional spray company. Spray with Carbaryl or Astro (premethrin) once a year, preferably before May. Trees that are already infested should NOT be sprayed once the tree is hit the spray will not be effective. Be sure to inspect trees that you wanted sprayed PRIOR to the spraying. The CSFS can assist you with this if you decide the community can/wants to go this route.
2.) Fire Mitigation:
- The Pinewood Knolls subdivision is a beautiful area. However, the forested areas within the subdivision are in dire need of attention. The forested areas are over-grown many trees are poor formed and showing signs of low vigor. The stands are considered to be overgrown and so dense that they replicate a “Dog-Hair” lodgepole pine forest rather than a “Park Like” ponderosa pine forest.
The current forest conditions can be classified as High Hazard fire conditions within the majority of the community. The fire potential for this area is considered to be severe. One dry lightning strike and dry windy weather conditions would be all that it takes to have a severe wildland fire (even out east) destroy your forested area and threaten homes and structures.
I highly recommend that the community and individual homeowners/landowners take responsibility for fuels mitigation. Removing ladder fuels, thinning the understory and creating defensible space are among the few things folks can do.
Taking the responsibility and actively managing your forests, will not only protect you, your loved ones and your homes; it will also promote forest health, decrease the competition for water, nutrients, sun and space so that trees can become vigorous, grow to be large and healthy and help to defend themselves against insect and disease.
The Colorado State Forest Service can assist the community or Individual homeowners in assessing and recommending forest management for their forested areas on their property and throughout the community. We can also explore the possibility of Landowner Assistance Programs to seek possible funding for mitigation projects for the community and individual homeowners. I also suggest you read the material that I have attached in regards to getting your community involved in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). This is a plan that helps communities become fire wise and opens up many more doors to becoming qualified for Fuels Mitigation grant dollars.
I have also attached some fire wise information for the homeowners.
I can schedule site visits/assessments. The CSFS does charge a fee of $50 per visit and can contact me at the number listed below.
Please call me with any questions or concerns.
Thank You,
Meg Halford
Assistant District Forester
Franktown District
Colorado State Forest Service
(303) 660-9625
mhalford@lamar.colostate.edu
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