2013 Colorado Forest Health Report 2013 Report on the of CaringHealth for Colorado’s Forests:Colorado’s Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Forests Opportunities Acknowledgments Special thanks to the following Colorado Lisa Dale, Assistant Director, Parks, The following individuals reviewed and/ State Forest Service (CSFS) State Office Wildlife and Lands, Colorado or provided information for the aerial personnel for providing leadership and/or Department of Natural Resources, survey results presented in this report: content and photos in the production of Denver, Colo. Justin Backsen, Aerial Surveyor, USDA this report: John Kaltenbach, Program Coordinator, Forest Service, Lakewood, Colo. Joseph A. Duda, Deputy State Forester Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Kelly Burns, Forest Pathologist, USDA (project lead); Pete Barry, GIS (CAPS), Colorado Department of Forest Service, Lakewood, Colo. Technician; Ryan Lockwood, Public Agriculture, Lakewood, Colo. Brian Howell, Aerial Survey Program and Media Relations Coordinator; Naomi Marcus, Forest Stewardship Manager, USDA Forest Service, Lisa Mason, Outreach Forester; and Coordinator, Forest Management Lakewood, Colo. Katherine Timm Schaubert, Outreach Division, CSFS, Fort Collins, Colo. Meg Halford, Assistant District Division Supervisor. Lauren Ris, Legislative Liaison, Colorado Forester, Franktown District, CSFS, Department of Natural Resources, Franktown, Colo. Thanks also to William M. Ciesla, Denver, Colo. Benjamin Pfohl, Assistant District Forest Health Management S. Sky Stephens, Entomologist, USDA Forester, Boulder District, CSFS, International, Fort Collins, Colo., for Forest Service, Lakewood, Colo. Longmont, Colo. his contributions as an author and Tim Reader, Utilization and Marketing Kelly Rogers, District Forester, Grand photographer in the development of Forester, Forest Management Junction District, CSFS, Grand this report. Division, CSFS, Durango, Colo. Junction, Colo. The following individuals served on the Keith Wood, Community Forestry Jennifer Ross, Geographic Information report working group and/or provided Program Manager, Forest Systems Specialist, USDA Forest information, guidance and feedback: Management Division, CSFS, Service, Monument, Colo. Kathleen Alexander, City Forester, City Broomfield, Colo. Jeff Witcosky, Forest Entomologist, of Boulder, Boulder, Colo. USDA Forest Service, Lakewood, Whitney Cranshaw, Professor Colo. and Extension Entomologist, Jim Worrall, Plant Pathologist, USDA Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Forest Service, Gunnison, Colo. Management Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. Front cover photos – Top: Clinton Bellingar. Lower, clockwise from top left: Dan Bihn; Bill Cotton, Colorado State University; David Cappaert, Michigan State University, www.forestryimages.org; Denver Parks and Recreation Background photo this page: Bill Cotton, Colorado State University 2013 Colorado Forest Health Report January 2014 As your new Colorado State Forester, it other potential solutions to the challenges is my distinct pleasure to present to you our forests are facing. One thing is clear: the 13th annual report on the health forest stewardship is best achieved through Aof Colorado’s forests. The theme of the collective efforts of private landowners, the 2013 report is Caring for Colorado’s public land managers, non-governmental Forests: Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s conservation organizations, elected officials Opportunities. How best to care for this and other interested stakeholders. vital resource has been a major topic of The mission of the Colorado State discussion since I arrived in Colorado in Forest Service is to “achieve stewardship July 2013. of Colorado’s diverse forest environments During my travels around the state, and for the benefit of present and future throughout my discussions with many of generations.” At no time in Colorado’s our stakeholders, I gained an appreciation history has the CSFS mission been so of how much Coloradans value our relevant – and working with stakeholders state’s iconic forest landscapes. I also have to identify and implement innovative learned about many of the collaborative programs will help us further our mission. efforts involving public and private forest We are confident you will find this year’s landowners to address the most pressing report informative, and we invite you to issues affecting forest health. contact the nearest CSFS office to learn This year’s report focuses on the values more about Colorado’s forest resources and our forests provide and includes several what you can do to help keep them healthy examples of the successful collaborative for present and future generations. forest management programs that were created to address the impacts of mountain pine beetle, threats associated with wildfire, and protection of critical watersheds and Michael B. Lester other values at risk. It is my hope that these State Forester and Director examples will lead to the identification of Colorado State Forest Service ▲ The Colorado State Forest Service has implemented forest management projects at Staunton State Park to improve the health and resiliency of the forest. Photo: Bill Cotton, Colorado State University 1 Executive Summary The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) The CSFS and other agencies monitor is the lead state agency for providing our forests to assess their health and technical forestry assistance and wildfire develop adaptive management strategies. Tmitigation expertise to help landowners Monitoring is accomplished through and communities achieve their stewardship the annual aerial forest health survey, a goals and reduce wildfire risk. The CSFS cooperative project between the CSFS produces an annual report on the health and the Rocky Mountain Region of the of Colorado’s forests, which provides USDA Forest Service; field inspections information to the Colorado General and contacts with forest landowners; Assembly and citizens of our state about data from the Colorado Forest Inventory emerging and ongoing forest health issues, and Analysis (FIA) Program; and special as well as actions we are taking to reduce surveys designed to ensure early detection their impacts. of potentially invasive insect species, such as Colorado’s 24.4 million acres of forests gypsy moth and emerald ash borer, which and woodlands provide countless benefits was discovered in Colorado for the first to its citizens and visitors, including fresh time in 2013. water, clean air, wildlife habitat, wood For the second consecutive year, the products and many forms of outdoor aerial survey identified spruce beetle as the recreation. In addition, Colorado’s most widespread insect pest of Colorado’s headwaters play a crucial role in meeting forests. In contrast, the area of active our nation’s need for fresh water. Our state mountain pine beetle infestation continued and 17 others derive their water supply to decline in 2013 due to the depletion of from Colorado’s high-country watersheds. susceptible host trees. 2 2013 Colorado Forest Health Report ◄ Colorado and 17 other states derive their water supply from Colorado’s high-country watersheds. Photo: Bill Cotton, Colorado State University Other major forest pests detected in and other benefits our forests provide. In addition, management helps us reduce 2013 include Douglas-fir beetle, which These objectives determine the level the percentage of forest products Colorado affects mature Douglas-fir forests; western of management that will occur. For imports from other states and countries, spruce budworm, which causes widespread example, wilderness and roadless areas which currently exceeds 90 percent. damage to mature Douglas-fir, white fir and are purposefully set aside on federal Active management of our urban trees Engelmann spruce; subalpine fir decline, forestlands to protect and preserve natural and forests also is essential, as they provide which affects high-elevation spruce-fir areas and minimize human disturbance. shade, buffer wind, reduce noise, help with forests; and western tent caterpillar and While the majority of federal forestlands stormwater management, absorb pollutants large aspen tortrix, which are known to are unavailable for active management, it is and cleanse the air. Trees are perhaps the defoliate aspen forests in Colorado. important that we manage the forestlands least expensive investment a community Colorado’s urban forests are being that are available. Active management of can make, yet they are the only part of a affected by thousand cankers disease, Colorado’s diverse forests will provide clean community’s infrastructure that increases which has killed thousands of ornamental air and water, enhance wildlife habitat, in value over time. black walnut trees in many Colorado improve resiliency and reduce wildfire risk, Historic and current events, communities, and emerald ash borer while also supplying forest products. It environmental factors and human (EAB), which was confirmed in the state for also ensures that our forests can continue intervention all have helped shape the first time in September 2013 in the City to provide the numerous social, economic Colorado’s forests. As Colorado’s primary of Boulder. Colorado is now the western- and ecological benefits on which we rely. resource for technical forestry assistance, most state in which the presence of EAB has education and outreach, the CSFS been confirmed. Due to the known impacts administers or is involved in numerous of EAB on ash species, development