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For the second consecutive year, the Front Range, particularly Larimer County, continues to experience the highest mortality rates affecting ponderosa and lodgepole pine trees.
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Acres affected by Mountain Pine Beetle by host species by county.
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This map shows all the quads flown for the 2011 Insect & Disease Survey. Place your mouse over a quad and the cursor should turn into a hand, indicating that you can click on it to download the large PDF file that gives a detailed view by zooming in.
NOTE: There are indications that this site is not compatible with the most recent versions of Safari and Internet Explorer. It seems to work fine with older browsers. If you experience problems, send a message to the CFA webmaster with a description of your Operating System, version and Browser version.
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Reports of drought–associated forest mortality have increased around the world, but the mechanisms of mortality are rarely direct in nature. Biotic agents may kill trees that could otherwise recover and can perpetuate and expand mortality after the stress is relieved. Sudden aspen decline (SAD) has caused rapid, widespread branch dieback and mortality of quaking aspen. Insects and diseases in 162 damaged and neighboring healthy plots were compared to determine contributing factors and their ecological roles.
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Our new video, The Power In Community Collaboration, highlights one of the many ways the wonderful people involved in Tree Farming have found to collaborate to more effectively reduce the damage being done to our forests and improve their health and sustainability for generations to come. We'll be adding videos of inspirational stories like this to our new YouTube channel as quickly as they can be produced.
If you are already collaborating with your neighbors to improve forest health or have discovered a method to more effectively reduce the damage that is being done to our forests, please let us know. We can help you tell your story with video. Better yet produce a video of your own highlighting your efforts.
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Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, said Monday he plans to sponsor a bill that will require the state to wrest control of most of Colorado's Fourteeners and more than 23 million acres of federal public land across the state, including most of Roosevelt National Forest west of Fort Collins and most of Colorado's BLM and U.S. Forest Service land. The state would either sell the land off to private individuals or manage it itself.
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One biomass project already is in the planning stages for nearby Eagle County. Eagle Valley Clean Energy LLC is focusing on Gypsum as the site for a $46 million biomass plant that annually would consume 1,200 acres of wood – mainly waste such as branches, thinnings and dead trees.
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The most devastating wildfire in Colorado's history in terms of property loss began on Labor Day, September 6, 2010. The majority of the property damage and loss from the fast moving and dramatic fire occurred in the first hours of the week–long fire. Losses are largely associated with the destruction of 169 homes. Insurance claims for losses topped $217 million. Fire suppression costs totaled approximately $10.1 million.
A survey was conducted of homeowners in Boulder County in 2007, 3 years before the Fourmile Canyon Fire, as part of a larger effort to understand the behaviors and attitudes of residents who live in high fire–risk areas. Among the 127 survey respondents who live in the Fourmile Canyon Fire evacuation zone, 9 lost their homes and 2 others suffered significant property damage.
The survey summarized here describes a population that had an awareness of wildfire risk and their need to take responsibility for reducing that risk on their property, yet only 61% had installed fire resistant roofs, only 26% had installed fire resistant siding, and only 29% had installed screening over roof vents.
Description:
The biofuels plant will salvage wood waste from renewable forests in Central Louisiana and adjacent regions and use that biomass as a feedstock. Sundrop Fuels also will extract hydrogen from abundant supplies of Louisiana natural gas, combining the hydrogen in a proprietary reactor with carbon extracted from wood waste. The result – up to 50 million gallons of fuel a year – will represent the world's first renewable green gasoline that's immediately adaptable to existing pumps, pipelines, engines and transportation infrastructure.
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Senate Bill 11-267: The Forest Health Act of 2011 created the Colorado Forest Biomass Use Work Group. The Work Group was tasked with two main objectives:
1 Identify barriers pertaining to the creation, development and sustainability of our forest products industry, including efforts to develop forest energy,
2 Develop recommendations to improve the efficacy of the CSFS with regards to managing for a forest energy industry, including but not limited to compiling and disseminating information, participating in the development of policy and executing and improving several forest management tools.
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Trees are one of Earth's largest banks for storing the carbon that gets emitted by natural processes and human activities. Forests cover about 30 percent of the planet's surface, and as much as 45 percent of the carbon stored on land is tied up in forests.
But did global forests hold more or less carbon in the past? And could they store more in the future? Does it matter where those trees are growing? Scientists really don't know. But before they can find out, they'll need a reliable inventory of what is growing today.
Over six years, researchers assembled the national forest map from space-based radar, satellite sensors, computer models, and a massive amount of ground-based data. It is possibly the highest resolution and most detailed view of forest structure and carbon storage ever assembled for any country.
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From 1911 to 1942 bark beetles swept through the lodgepole pine forest of Montana and Idaho.
This 1944 report documents the infestation.
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This document summarizes the preliminary findings of the Rocky Mountain Research Station Team chartered to assess the Fourmile Canyon Fire. These findings are subject to refinement and change as the Team completes its work.
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An innovative mine reclamation project on Castle Creek has transformed a steep riverside slope from a potential public safety hazard filled with toxic mine debris into a green meadow of tall grass and daffodils – in one year's time. The experiment used biochar to successfully re-vegetate the area next to the abandoned Hope Mine, restoring soil ravaged by mine tailings.
Biochar is a charcoal-like substance made from heated biomass. It is used to both increase the health of the soil it's mixed with, and to sequester carbon emitted by grass, shrubs and trees.
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Gov. Dennis Daugaard got an aerial view Monday of pine-beetle damage in the Black Hills, then hit the ground running with a $3 million plan to battle an insect plague that threatens South Dakota's popular island of trees in a sea of grass.
The plan would commit $1 million a year for three years out of state emergency and disaster funding to pay for survey, detection and marking of beetle-infested trees on private land. Funding would then be available to private landowners to remove or chop up infected trees to control the spread of bugs.
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The Colorado State Forest Service has released the first-ever Colorado Forest Road Field Handbook to provide private landowners and state land managers information on how to properly build and maintain forest roads.
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U.S. Deptartment of Energy, Biomass Supply for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry, August 2011.
This is an update to the 2005 BTS, in which, a strategic analysis was undertaken to determine if U.S. agriculture and forest resources have the capability to potentially produce at least one billion dry tons of biomass annually, in a sustainable manner – enough to displace approximately 30% of the country's present petroleum consumption.
This is a large file that may take several minutes to download on low speed connections. The reader is advised to study the definitions and assumptions before attempting to draw conclusions from Figures and Tables.
Description:
Vineyards LLC is developing a data center campus, Vineyards Data Center Park, which will be powered by a 50-megawatt biomass plant..
The development is shovel ready and in the process of selecting a capital partner. Computer data center units should be available for occupancy and lease by spring 2012.
Colorado Springs Utilities, the local utility, is planning the biomass and waste-to-energy plant, which will be located on-site. The plant will utilize woody biomass as a feedstock, particularly mountain pine beetle-killed timber.
Colorado Springs lies at the base of the mountains in close proximity to the beetle infestation. Using this wood for sustainable energy purposes is an excellent way to benefit from an unfortunate forestry problem. A portion of the bionergy will be derived from municipal waste and other biosolids. The biomass plant is estimated to be running by 2014 .
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Restoration of forest lands in the White Mountains impacted by wildfires in the last couple of decades will soon be getting some help from the newly completed Native Plant Nursery in Canyon Day on the White Mountain Apache Reservation thanks to cooperative efforts between the tribe and U.S. Forest Service.
Seedlings that used to be available from the nursery in McNary will now be available through the new $2.2 million facility in Canyon Day thanks to 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funding.
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Triple–Knock–Out–Punch.
When the Wallow Fire tries to burn into the communities of Alpine and Greer, a "triple punch" helps to thwart and stop this high-intensity crown fire before it reaches homes:
1. Prior Fuel Treatments.
2. Quick and Effective Firefighter Suppression Actions.
3. "Firewise" and defensible space pre- fire actions by homeowners.
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Old-growth and regeneration in a clear-cut.
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Saving Gold Hill: the story of the Fourmile Canyon Fire is the most popular.
The others, like How to Properly Insure Your Home Against Wildfire, should not be ignored.
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Human Safety, Recovery and Resiliency.
The Western Bark Beetle Strategy identifies how the Forest Service is responding to and will respond to the western bark beetle epidemic over the next five years.
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The Colorado Forest Products™ Program is a companion campaign to Colorado Proud™ and results in increased awareness about Colorado's forest and wood products industry.
Note the link to the new interactive database of Colorado Forest Products Companies.
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The 2011 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year, Outstanding Logger of the Year, and the San Juan Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year have been announced.
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As the Wallow Fire in eastern Arizona grows to nearly half a million blackened acres, experts say the Southwest has entered an era of monster fires, sprawling infernos that, if they continue to erupt, could wipe out half of the state's pine forests in another decade.
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Visit this web site for the latest news and maps for any large incident (fire, flood, etc) anywhere in the country. Note that the table can be sorted by clicking the column headings.
Or use the search function in the upper right hand corner to narrow the list down by state or to search by incident name.
On the page for a specific incident:
Under the 'Maps' tab you will find progression maps for nearly every day since the fire started.
Check out the 'Related Incident Links' in the right column. You will also find instructions for viewing the information in Google Earth.
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Visit this page on INCIWEB for the latest info on the Wallow Fire, Arizona's largest, now at 511,118 acres (799 square miles) as of June 19, 2011.
For those not used to thinking in terms of thousands of acres, imagine the area bounded by I-70, I-76, and 72nd Ave on the north side, E-470 on the east, and C-470 on the south and west sides. Now double that to approximate the size of the Wallow Fire. It is almost 4 times larger than our Hayman Fire of 2002.
To appreciate and respect the rate at which fire can spread
See this earlier progression map.
Note:
The distance from the blue line representing the fire perimeter as of June 2 and the green line to the northeast representing the perimeter as of the next day, June 3 on the outskirts of Alpine is TEN miles. The fire burned 60,000 acres that day.
How many structures and lives will be lost when a fire of this magnitude and intensity hits the Front Range?
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This document is intended as an information source for federal and state forest managers interested in supporting the establishment of viable biomass industries that benefit western forests and communities.
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HELENA - The red needles of a tree killed in a mountain pine beetle attack can ignite up to three times faster than the green needles of a healthy tree, new research into the pine beetle epidemic has found. The findings by U.S. Forest Service ecologist Matt Jolly are being used by fellow ecologist Russ Parsons to develop a new model that will eventually aid firefighters who battle blazes in the tens of millions of acres from Canada to Colorado where forest canopies have turned from green to red from the beetle outbreak.
Note: The people who commented on this newspaper article apparently are unaware of this paper, "Recent Forest Insect Outbreaks and Fire Risk in Colorado Forests: A Brief Synthesis of Relevant Research" by Romme, et.al. See Question 6 on page 8.
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Everything you always wanted to know about Colorado's forest resources.
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See this web site for a rational explanation of the reasons why using paper sustains forest land value and gives owners a reason to not convert the land to urban sprawl.
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For years, federal land managers have aimed at letting wildfires burn to boost forest health – and save taxpayers some of the billions the government spends dousing nearly every blaze.
"We're looking for opportunities to let fire play its natural role in the landscape," regional U.S. Forest Service chief Rick Cables said this week.
But Colorado's growing population and energy industry near forests, combined with surging numbers of wildfires, is making a let-it-burn approach increasingly difficult.
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This field guide is a forest management tool for field identification of biotic and abiotic agents that damage native trees in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming, which constitute the USDA Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Region.
The guide focuses only on tree diseases and forest insects that have significant economic, ecological, and/ or aesthetic impacts; this guide does not necessarily cover all possible damage agents. Management suggestions are provided where available. The field guide is divided into two sections: one describes both diseases and damage caused by animals and abiotic factors, and the other describes insects.%nbsp; Agents are presented by the type and/or location of the injury on the tree. Written descriptions, color photographs, a general index, an index by host tree species, descriptive tables, and line drawings are all provided to assist users in identifying damaging agents.
This is a large file (16.5MB). Downloads will be slow on dialup connections. Printed copies of Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-241, may be ordered through this web site.
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A National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (Cohesive Strategy) and The Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act of 2009 Report to Congress. Together, these documents provide the framework for a three-phase, strategic effort to restore and maintain resilient landscapes, create fire-adapted communities, and respond to wildfires. The effort has been overseen by the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC), an intergovernmental body of federal, state, tribal and municipal stakeholders.
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Hull-Oakes Lumber is the last steam-powered commerical saw mill in the country, and they're one of the few mills capable of cutting large timbers up to 85' long. The mill has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996. Large long timbers are still used in railroad trestles, the restoration of historic structures, and for the spars and masts of ships.
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The Colrado State Forest Service released the 2010 report on the health of Colorado's forests.
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The USDA Forest Service unveiled its proposed Forest Planning Rule today which would establish a new national framework to develop land management plans that protect water and wildlife and promote vibrant communities.
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On Jan. 12 the U.S. EPA announced a plan to defer greenhouse gas (GHG) permitting requirements for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that result from biomass-fired and biogenic sources for three years. In addition, the EPA will notify the National Alliance of Forest Owners that its petition to reconsider the portion of the May 2010 tailoring that addresses the same issue will be granted.
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The research that this article references is available on the PNAS web site High Altitude Forests Face Bleak Future. along with other related papers. While this may appear to apply only to AZ and NM, on page 2 they say “Projected changes in RWI for these four climate scenarios demonstrate that the SW region and Colorado Rockies particularly stand out as likely to experience the largest and most widespread decreases in growth among the continental US tree populations represented in the ITRDB (Fig. 2).”
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High-Priority Forest Restoration and Fuels Mitigation Grant.
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The chemical treatments that were used in previous epidemics to kill the beetles in infested logs and firewood are no longer available. Solarization can produce lethal temperatures under the bark, but this method requires time, and space. Neither is abundant.
Jon Bell's idea is to use
A WOOD FIRE to generate the heat required to attain lethal temperatures under the bark. The linked PDF describes his success in 'cooking' wood to kill beetles. Two more steps in the development are needed to make 'cooking wood' a practical treatment method: One is to make the loading and unloading more efficient by keeping the wood in larger pieces and mechanizing the handling.
The other is to instrument the process so that the temperature under the bark can be monitored in real time so that no time or energy is wasted heating the wood past the point required to kill the beetles. If you can contribute to the refinement or if you wish to build your own, please contact Jon at jonbell@indra.com.
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The workshop was a cooperative event sponsored by Colorado Tree Farmers, Colorado Forestry Association, the Ft. Collins District of the Colorado State Forest Service and the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources.
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A special series by the Spokane Spokesman-Review remembering the 1910 fires that burned 3 million acres of N Idaho and Montana. A century ago this month, 3 million acres of North Idaho, Montana and Washington forest were turned to charcoal in two wind-whipped days. The towns of Taft, Haugan, DeBorgia in Montana, and Grand Forks and Falcon in Idaho, were destroyed. One-third of Wallace was obliterated. At least 85 people died.
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This PDF file contains Pictures of burn piles in Grand County. Don't you have to wonder why this material can't be utilized for some beneficial purpose?
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This PDF file contains the highlights of a forest health seminar. The material is made available to CFA members and visitors to the CFA web site in the hope that landowners will become more proactive in managing their land to minimize insect and disease problems. The included pictures should help landowners detect the presence of these pests. Direct and indirect control recommendations are included.
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Several of northern Colorado`s most recognized forestry-related organizations hosted a memorial tree planting April 22 in honor of American forestry leader Tom Borden.
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The executive summary provides a framework for conserving and enhancing the benefits from private working forests in the western U.S.
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Place-Based Strategies: Pine Beetles & Forest Health - A Best Practices Symposium - December 17, 2009, sponsored by FOR THE FOREST. Watch the videos covering the full symposium on their website. The first video covers lessons learned by three guests from Canada. It is well worth watching.
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Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, U.S. Senators for Colorado, today announced that Colorado-based ClearFuels Technology and ZeaChem will receive approximately $48 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to create as many as 200 new, full-time jobs producing high-quality, low-emission diesel and jet fuels.
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A Hawaii company has received $23 million in stimulus funds to work on a biorefinery project in Commerce City. Clearfuels Technology Inc. will be working to produce renewable diesel and jet fuel from woody biomass. The company says the project will bring 43 construction jobs to the city and 11 additional jobs at the facility. Lakewood-based ZeaChem Inc. also received funding: $25 million to support construction of the company's first cellulosic biorefinery in Oregon. The Energy Department announced Friday that a total of 19 renewable-fuel projects would receive $564 million in federal stimulus funds.
Description:
This desk is made from Gambel oak. This desk was entered in the 2009 Cody High Style:Designing the West Exhibition. It was awarded the `Best of Show`, `Exhibitor's Choice`, and `People's Choice` awards. It was the first time in the history of the show that all three awards went to the same piece.
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And you thought lodgepole pine was only good for posts, poles, and studs!
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Obama signs bill to help agencies manage skyrocketing wildfire suppression costs.
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NV Energy Testing Producing Cleaner Energy.
NV Energy says it has found a way to be kinder to the environment while powering Las Vegas and it involves mixing coal with wood chips.
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A study of seven years of wildfires (2001-2007)
This report shows that the wildfires that scorched California from 2001 to 2007 seriously degraded the state's forests and contributed to global warming. Political and economic obstacles to managing forests and restoring burned forests are the root causes of the wildfire crisis.
The emissions from only the seven years of wildfires documented in this study are equivalent to adding an estimated 50 million more cars onto California's highways for one year, each spewing tons of greenhouse gases. Stated another way, this means all 14 million cars in California would have to be locked in a garage for three and one-half years to make up for the global warming impact of these wildfires.
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NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program. CSP encourages agricultural and forestry producers to maintain existing conservation activities and adopt additional ones onto their operations.
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. If you can help us understand the financial, economic, or political aspects of this situation as described in the next two bullets, please step forward and share your knowledge.
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The U.K. government has approved construction of a 60-megawatt biomass power plant at the Port of Tilbury Docks in Essex that is expected to be operational in 2012.
The plant will run on 300,000 metric tons annually of wood chips and wood waste, and another 300,000 metric tons of solid recovered fuel from sources such as household waste, according to the developer, Tilbury Green Power, a subsidiary of Express Energy. The feedstock will be delivered by boat and barge mostly from Europe and the U.S. and some from the U.K.
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Americas likely source for growing UK wood biomass appetite, projected at 22 million tons/year
The United Kingdom is fast positioning itself as a huge potential consumer of wood biomass, having six projects proposed with a projected total demand of 22 million green tons/year. North America appears the likely candidate as a supplier for furnish, worth an estimated $550 million/year at the dock.
Description:
As a consequence of the current mountain pine beetle epidemic, many landowners and land managers are concerned about how to actively manage lodgepole pine stands to:
1) treat the dead standing trees killed by the insects,
2) protect homes and communities from wildfire, and
3) ensure that the future forest is better structured to prevent widespread mortality from insect epidemics and wildfire.
Description:
Springs Utilities in Colorado Springs, will contract with a biomass management company this fall to deliver woody biomass to its Martin Drake Power Plant.
The available wood biomass supply is enough to continuously blend 15 percent biomass with 85 percent coal, according to Terry Meikle, who has led the effort to produce biomass energy in the area. That 15 percent will produce about 150,000 megawatts per year, he said. The wood biomass will include forestry in a 75-mile radius, including trees killed by pine beetles, and urban biomass such as pallets and tree trimmings, Meikle said. “We have a couple mitigation fuels that are available to us, as well,” he added, citing wood pellets, energy crop pellets, and paper and cardboard pellets. The plant is capable of burning coal and natural gas and with the addition of biomass will be one of the few power plants in the nation that can burn three types of fuel.
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The millions of acres of dead, downed and diseased timber infected by pine beetles in Colorado and the Western U.S. could be put to beneficial use by the biomass industry, and also help with forest fire mitigation and suppression, according to Mark Mathis, Pellet Fuels Institute Government Affairs and Commercial Fuel Committee member.
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To acquire more articles of local interest the CFA Board of Directors has established a new policy to encourage members and students to submit articles for consideration. Read this notice for details on topics and compensation.
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Foresters have issued a “call to action” to prevent further spread of a major bark beetle epidemic, with targeted land including the Lake Tahoe area and other parts of the Sierra. “The Tahoe Basin is a perfect spot” to try and get ahead of a beetle infestation that threatens about 22 million acres of forest across the West,” said Pete Anderson, Nevada`s state forester and chairman of the forestry council. Thinning overgrown forests is the most effective way to avoid beetle infestation “so you don`t have a host,” Anderson said.
From the Reno Gazette Journal 3/24/2009.
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To date, observations of mountain pine beetle's success in mixed-host species situations, where lodgepole pine is mixed with limber pine, Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine, or ponderosa pine, all suggest that the beetle will readily surmount the transitional hurdles associated with host tree species other than lodgepole pine. It appears that the mountain pine beetle will likely move through the lodgepole pine /ponderosa pine ecotone and into the pure ponderosa pine forests of the northern Front Range and impact all species of pines in the process.
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There are several forestry issues in our local area needing our attention. Nederland is at risk of wildfires and this risk will only increase with increased impacts from the Mountain Pine and Ips Beetles.
Also, Defensible space, Beetle Kill, Sort Yard, CWPP Needed.
Description:
Although bark beetles are native to forests of the western U.S., severe drought in combination with unhealthy forest conditions over the past decade have resulted in extraordinary levels of bark beetle-caused tree mortality across the West. We are positioned to address the unhealthy forest conditions contributing to bark beetle outbreaks through active management. While we cannot stop large outbreaks, with additional resources we can minimize the impacts of ongoing and future outbreaks on the 2.4 million acres of highest priority in the West. Without increased active forest management we can expect more bark beetle outbreaks, severe wildfire, and negative impacts on public benefits from forests. Now is the window.
Description:
This white paper contains talking points for your use in conversations, letters to editors, or meetings. Please download the pdf file so that you can email it to other land owners. Keep printed copies in your brief case to distribute whenever the topic comes up. Use it to encourage people to visit the CFA web site to read the President's message from the stump and this News and Information page for more information.
To download the pdf file using Windows Internet Explorer, right click the link above and select SAVE TARGET AS. Select which folder you wish to save it in and click SAVE.
To download the pdf file on a Mac using Safari, right click the link above and select DOWNLOAD THE LINKED FILE AS. Select which folder you wish to save it in and click SAVE.
Description:
This condensed version can be printed on business cards so that you can keep them handy in your pocket. These should print on Avery 8873 or similar card stock. You may want to print this on the back side of your own business cards.
To download the pdf file using Windows Internet Explorer, right click the link above and select SAVE TARGET AS. Select which folder you wish to save it in and click SAVE.
To download the pdf file on a Mac using Safari, right click the link above and select DOWNLOAD THE LINKED FILE AS. Select which folder you wish to save it in and click SAVE.
Description:
This pdf file contains one card image. Please download the pdf file so that you can copy and paste it into emails or any other software you may use.
To download the pdf file using Windows Internet Explorer, right click the link above and select SAVE TARGET AS. Select which folder you wish to save it in and click SAVE.
To download the pdf file on a Mac using Safari, right click the link above and select DOWNLOAD THE LINKED FILE AS. Select which folder you wish to save it in and click SAVE.
Description:
A clear link between climate, fires, and tree establishment episodes has been identified, showing the importance of regional historical processes on the composition and structure of our current forests.
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High-elevation five-needle pines, keystone species in fragile ecosystems throughout western North America, are being beset by changing climates, the introduction of non-native pests, and the reduction of naturally occurring fires. Bark beetles and diseases are threatening tree species growing in these ecosystems; the most serious short-term threat is a native insect, the mountain pine beetle. While not unprecedented, mountain pine beetle populations in high-elevation, five-needle pine stands are presently at higher levels than previously recorded. In most stands throughout the West, populations have increased dramatically within the past 8-10 years, infesting more than 1.2 million acres and killing as many as six million five-needle pines. We anticipate beetle populations will remain high as long as weather conditions are conducive to beetle survival and/or until most mature host trees have been killed.
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Read the text and watch the video clip.
The primary target of the beetles is the lodgepole pine, but the bug has developed a taste for another tree. Ponderosa pines on the Front Range are now being killed as well, according to Cain.
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CFA board member, Charles Henry is is featured.
Good video from Grand County. Too bad they didn't show the green clearcuts from the 1950's and 60's. Warning - You have to watch a commercial first.
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Statewide 2008 aerial detection survey map showing extent of three major concerns.
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The highlights - Because of greater variability in age, size, density and species diversity in the ponderosa pine-dominated forests of the northern Front Range, the course of the mountain pine beetle epidemic and the severity of losses are difficult to predict. We suspect that tree mortality in ponderosa pines will be more variable than the losses observed in lodgepole pine forests that are west of the Continental Divide.
A strong and coordinated effort among all of those impacted by this infestation is the only way to address an epidemic of this size and severity.
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Acres infested by pest, by host tree species, by county.
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Get detailed maps here.
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IIf you want to get right to the meat of the matter, jump to page 43, Attachment 1, The Selected Alternative.
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This USFS web page contains the Final EIS, Draft EIS, Current lynx research, Canada Lynx Conservation Assessment and Stategy and more.
Description:
Recent catastrophic wildfires in the United States have highlighted the increasing threat of wildfires to urban and rural communities. Since the establishment of the National Fire Plan in 2001, and the passage of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act in 2003, hundreds of communities across the United States have developed community fire plans, engaged in Firewise activities, and taken action at a community level to reduce their risk to wildfire. There are, however, thousands more communities across the country that remain at risk to wildfire. This page is dedicated to highlighting the resources, publications, and examples of strategies for developing, implementing, and monitoring Community Wildfire Protection Plans and for fostering collaborative activities aimed at reducing wildfire risk and restoration of forests and landscapes. Highlights include strategies for engaging vulnerable populations, as well as integrating landscape restoration within fire planning activities.
Description:
This report addresses business cycles, globalization, global climate change and the need for a new timber business model. Sustainable forest products business models of the future will emerge as a result of proactive healthy forest management, not the other way around. This is a fundamental change from the past forest industry business model. That model emerged in an era of abundant wood supply that exceeded manufacturing capacity and that was strongly driven by market demand for timber products. That era is over. The demand in this era is for desirable forest conditions that reflect societys desires for fish and wildlife habitat, esthetics, recreation, etc. over wood production.
Description:
While energy costs continue to rise with no end currently in sight, one Vermont community is developing a community energy plan that saves money, reduces their dependence on foreign oil, combats climate change, improves forest health, and supports local industries and workers. This report details how a rural community can take advantage of the cost savings of wood energy while assuring that the wood is sourced and utilized in a “Sustainable, Efficient, Local, and Fair (SELF)” manner.
Description:
A report on the Grass Valley Fire, October 2007, San Bernardino N.F. Excellent photography supports the narrative of the fire's progression from wildland fuel into a dense development. “Structure fires, driven by winds aligned with the streets, spread more rapidly than adjacent wildland fuels, producing mass ember spotting and intensity that ignited other structures.”
Description:
A report on the Grass Valley Fire, October 2007, San Bernardino N.F. One of several key points: “The Grass Valley residential fire disaster was principally the result of high home ignition potential. The wildfire initiated the residential burning, but burning homes predominantly continued the fire spread to other homes without the wildfire as a significant factor.”
Description:
Fuel for Flames or Fuel for Energy? State Forester Provides Testimony on Negative Impacts of “Renewable” Definition. In a hearing this morning by the House Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research Butch Blazer, New Mexico State Forester, gave testimony on the western impacts of the 2007 Energy Bill, with particular focus on woody bioenergy opportunities and failings with the new Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). Blazer, as a representative of the Council of Western State Foresters, raised concerns over artificial limitations placed on sources of woody biomass that qualify for the RFS, stating, “The Council's mission is to ensure the sustainability and health of western forests to meet today's needs and the needs of future generations. It is this mission that has compelled me to testify before you.”
The Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007, signed into law in December, 2007, includes a historic 36 billion-gallon renewable fuels standard (RFS) goal by the year 2017. A portion of which will be reached through the use woody biomass, or wood waste. However, a last-minute change in a definition prevents, for all intents and purposes, wood waste from federal lands - such as trees, wood, brush, thinnings, chips and slash from counting toward the renewable fuels goal.
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Under Fire - Watch the video, view the photo gallery. Be sure to read the captions. There are words of wisdom here.
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A Summary Report of Wood Utilization Efforts in Heating Systems in the Western United States and Territories. JUNE, 2008.
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Heating With Biomass - an Overview, or Where Wood Works by Craig Jones.
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Overview of space heating with biomass by Randy Hunsberger. Includes photos of construction of Gilpin County Road and Bridge shop and biomass heating plant.
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Overview of Boulder Co. Parks and Open Space and Transportation Building heated with biomass by Therese Glowacki. Heating with biomass saved approximately $30,000 during the winter of 2007-2008.
Description:
The announcement of $4.1 million in grants to small rural businesses in the west highlights the need for increased investments and community involvement in finding solutions to western forest health issues. While the grants address the funding need, political challenges abound. Congress recently passed an energy bill that would eliminate woody biomass from projects such as these from being counted towards our Nation's renewable fuels standard.