Summit County Citizens Voice

Forest Health task force to discuss state policy changes.

Summit forest health task force meets Nov. 18

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Community members interested in forest health issues will get an update in how changes in political leadership at the state level might affect forest health policy this week. With several members of Governor-elect John Hickenlooper‘s transition team in attendance at the recent bark beetle summit meeting at Keystone, it appears that there will be some continuity in addressing one of the state’s most critical natural resource issues.

But the summit also showed there is still confusion among some elected officials, who seemed to want to link the recent Four Mile Canyon Fire with the bark beetle issue. the problem with that is that the Four Mile Canyon Fire burned in mostly green trees that hadn’t been affected by insects. That’s a fundamental distinction that needs to be made, and if the state’s top political leaders can’t do that, it tough to expect the general population to get it.

The task force meeting (Nov. 18, 7:30 a.m. at the Frisco Community Center, 110 Third Ave.) will also get an update on ow a potential partnership between Summit County,  the Town of Kremmling and Union Pacific could facilitate sale and distribution of Colorado Blue Pine®  products to state, national and international markets. Related to that, task force leaders will give a report on how they’re progressing with a Colorado Blue Pine® online catalog designed to promote the sale of products made with beetle-killed bluestain wood. Questions about the forest health task force can be directed at lead organizer Sandy Briggs, 970-389-0987.

Filed under: Summit County Colorado Tagged: | bark beetles, mountain pine beetles, Summit County Colorado, Summit County Forest Health task force, Summit County News