Article Contributed on: 6/10/2009 11:36:13 AM
As members of roundtable, county contributes to new position
During its weekly meeting on June 9, Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners approved $1,500 to help fund a contract position for a person who will work with the Front Range Fuels Treatment Roundtable to coordinate communication and project implementation in support of community wildfire protection and restoration of forest health, including efforts to address the mountain pine beetle.
After participating in roundtable meetings, commissioners Kathy Hartman and Faye Griffin agreed that the group, which is made up of different agencies and elected officials from 10 Front Range counties as well as representatives from the U.S. and State Forest Service, was asking jurisdictions to provide funding for a coordinator.
"The purpose of the coordinator would be to provide assistance by letting governments know what grants and funds are available from the federal and state government regarding the mountain pine beetle epidemic. It would also help us learn what we can from counties that have been more affected so far." said Hartman.
Hartman said the coordinator would be employed by the Nature Conservancy and work on behalf of Gilpin, Clear Creek, Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer, El Paso, Teller, Douglas, Park and Grand counties.
"What motivates the roundtable is a focus on protecting communities so the forests are healthier and can function more naturally." said Paige Lewis, a forest policy specialist with the Nature Conservancy.
Lewis said the roundtable group began after the devastating 2002 fire season and consists of agencies and stakeholders that want to find ways to restore Front Range forests. A report was issued with 10 recommendations to help treatment on the ground.
"Because it involved so many different stakeholders, we thought we needed someone to help us stay on task and make sure we accomplished goals at a higher level than an administrator. We wanted someone who understands the issues and can help us build relationships and identify new funding opportunities," said Lewis.
Hartman said the coordinator would also be responsible for applying for grants and working with state and federal representatives.
Lewis said a coordinator had been selected, but because the contract was not yet finalized her name has not been released.
Lewis said the 35-member roundtable was asked to chip in an amount they felt they could do.
"We were trying to make up a $10,000 shortfall. Several, but not all members contributed to a pot of funding that enables us to hire the coordinator," said Lewis.
"We have counties doing all these different things and we need to get organized, because I guarantee you the beetle doesn't pay attention to county boundaries," Hartman said.
Hartman asked county administrators and the county attorney's office to put together a relevant contract and determine whose budget Jeffco's contribution will come from.
According to the county Web site, the mountain pine beetle population increases to epidemic levels every 20 to 25 years. It carries a fungus that causes the trees to die by clogging their vascular systems. The process can take months to show the effects.
Lewis said the mountain pine beetle is one species of the bark beetle family. She said the concern is that it could be moving into Front Range forests, which are predominantly Ponderosa pine forests as opposed to the lodgepole pine forests being impacted in the High Country.
"We are simply trying to become informed enough to inform the general public," Hartman said.
more info
For more information on the mountain pine beetle, visit http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05528.html
The Colorado State Forest Service - http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/common-insects.html
To view more information about the mountain pine beetle, visit http://www.co.jefferson.co.us/weed/weed_T71_R10.htm
or call weed and pest management at 303-271-5989.
http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/common-insects.html