Forest study shows value of protecting streams

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Forest buffers around streams during logging projects can help keep the water cool

A long-term study in Oregon shows the value of protecting streams with forest buffers during logging projects.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A long-term study conducted across 33 sites in Oregon shows how important it is to protect stream corridors with tree buffers during logging projects.

Stream temperatures are a particular concern for cold-water fish such as trout and salmon. State regulations in Oregon mandate that forest management activities should not increase temperatures by more than 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

The study found that forest treatments on private lands resulted in temperature increases of 1.3 degrees, while there was no difference in temperatures on state forest lands. The researchers made no conclusions as to whether temperature increase on private forest lands is a concern for fish health. It was only designed to examine regulatory stream temperature compliance. (more…)

Filed under: agriculture, Environment, Forest health, forests | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Summit County: Light-on-the-land logging?

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Welcome to the Forest Service’s idea of forest ‘restoration’ in a popular recreation area, where there were good signs of regeneration

Heavy duty logging is under way at the Old Dillon Reservoir trailhead in Summit County, Colorado, between Frisco and Dillon.

SUMMIT COUNTY — During an early morning dog-walking session along the Dillon Dam Road, I drove past the Old Dillon Reservoir trailhead and did a quick double-take. After previous thinning and some selective cutting, the Forest Service has apparently decided to go back and finish off what was left of the forest in that area once and for all. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Dillon, Dillon Ranger District, Dillon Reservoir, Environment, Forest health, forests, Frisco, pine beetles and wildfires, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, US Forest Service, White River National Forest | Tagged: , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Summit County: Summer logging under way

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Logging slated in Lake Hill area

Old Dillon Reservoir from atop Lake Hill.

SUMMIT COUNTY — Hikers at the Old Dillon Reservoir Trail will see loggers at work clearing beetle-killed trees from the area. The work is aimed at addressing the effects of the pine beetle epidemic, and the Old Dillon Reservoir Authority is also planning on starting its enlargement project soon.

 

There may be operations every day during the week. The public should not be surprised to see a lot of truck activity and trees coming down. The trails should not be directly impacted, but people on the trails may see operations.

The public is asked to please stay away from operations.  Please contact the Dillon Ranger Station at 970-468-5400 with any questions.

This work is part of ongoing projects on Dillon Ranger District this summer, including the White River Wildland Urban Interface Stewardship Project (about 1300 acres) and the Keystone Stewardship Project (about 1000 acres). Hazard tree removal on roads and trails will also be occurring throughout the summer.

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , | Leave a Comment »

Summit County: More hazard tree logging

Posted on September 21, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

A couple of trees knocked over by winds lay across a spur trail in the Old Dillon Reservoir area.

Popular local roads and trails affected; Forest Service asking people to stay away

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Hikers beware — Forest Service timber crews will working to clear hazard trees from along popular trails and roads the next few days. The agency is asking people to stay away while the tree-felling is in progress.

Here’s a list of the affected trails:
Tenderfoot
Meadow Creek
North Tenmile

Roads:
Spruce Creek
Crystal Creek
Frey Gulch
Rock Island
Prospect Hill Road
Brush Creek

“We ask that forest users avoid these areas so that our crews can make the most efficient use of their time,” said Dillon District Ranger Jan Cutts. ”All forest users should expect delays when encountering tree felling operations. We ask for continued cooperation to ensure both public safety and that of our crews.”

The operations will continue indefinitely depending on crew availability. Hazard trees located within 110 percent of the height of the tallest tree from the edge of the trail or road will be felled. Felling operations are expected to run between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The above trails and roads were identified as a priority because of the high amount of use.

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Report: Illegal rainforest logging drops 22 percent

Posted on July 22, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

This image from the Wikimedia Commons shows a rainforest in Peru along the banks of the Amazon.

Consumer interest, combined with enforcement in producer countries, can yield results, researcher say

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — A London-based think tank says illegal logging has dropped worldwide, but also warns that loggers are probably getting better at hiding illegal activities, and that China and Japan need to cut their imports of illegally logged wood.

Chatham House, an international think tank, says its study on illegal logging is the most thorough assessment of issue to-date. According to the data the researchers examined. illegal logging has dropped  by as much as 50 percent in Cameroon, between 50 a 75 percent in the Brazilian Amazon and by 75 percent in Indonesia. Total global production of illegal timber has fallen by about 22 percent since 2002. (more…)

Filed under: Environment, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Most-viewed stories July 1 & 2

Posted on July 4, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

Click on the headline below to view the photo essay on the Swan Mountain clear cut.

Bookmark and Share

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The most-viewed stories from the past 24 hours included a photo essay from one of Summit County’s clear-cut beetle kill areas, as well the most recent efforts by federal officials to track the path of the oil spill and predict when it might southern Florida. We also covered local and regional wildfire news. Check the headlines and share this link with friends.

Filed under: Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Video: Peak 7 residents concerned about slash

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

Tree-clearing project in power line corridor leaves big mess in the neighborhood

Video by Jenney Coberly

Story by Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Peak 7 residents are hoping that tree-cutting crews working for Xcel will swing back through the neighborhood to clean up the debris left behind after a blitz-cut to remove hazard trees from power line rights-of-way. Some of the residents are concerned that the litter could quickly turn into a fire hazard as the wood dries out on the ground.

According to residents, much of the wood is within the Xcel right-of-way, but some of it is also impacting private property.

The Red, White & Blue Fire District received several calls about the issue Thursday. Captain Kim Scott said local fire officials will look into the situation and try and find out what Xcel’s plans are for cleaning up the debris.

“The people in the Peak 7 neighborhood have done a great job of clearing their properties. We wouldn’t want to see anything negatively affect that,” Scott said.

The push to clear trees from the utility corridors gained more urgency after recent windstorms resulted in blowdowns around Summit County. Dead lodgepoles around the Old Dillon Reservoir trail fell en masse this past week, and even live, healthy spruce trees succumbed to the winds near the town of Dillon’s water intake along Straight Creek (see photo below). (more…)

Filed under: Breckenridge, Environment, forests, Summit County Colorado, video | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Aerial cable-haul logging eyed for steep slopes in Summit

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

Cable-haul systems can help land managers transport timber over rugged mountain terrain.

Swiss engineering helps perfect mechanics needed for smooth operation of logging gear

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — After a recent visit to Switzerland, Daymon Pascual is more convinced than ever that aerial cable-haul logging — done right — could be the answer to clearing beetle-killed trees from steep slopes, sensitive watersheds and even at local ski resorts.

By using gravity, along with a combination of pulleys, motorized winches and cables, the system can be used to remove timber from hillsides and other areas where road-building and mechanized access are challenging. Pascual says it’s a way to do the needed work while leaving a much smaller environmental footprint on the land. Summit Voice first reported on Pascual’s efforts here.

More after the break… (more…)

Filed under: economy, Environment, Forest health, forests, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Forest bill could boost biofuel efforts in Colorado

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

A forest insect emergency bill pending in the U.S. Senate could give companies more incentives to turn dead trees into biofuel.

State Sen. Dan Gibbs is in Washington, D.C. this week to testify in support of a measure that could speed up the pipeline for some local forest projects

By Bob Berwyn
SUMMIT COUNTY — State Sen. Dan Gibbs is in Washington, D.C. this week to testify in support of a forest health bill that could speed Forest Service efforts to clear beetle-killed trees on national forest lands around Frisco, Breckenridge and Silverthorne.

The hearing is set for Tuesday afternoon before a U.S. Senate Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee.

The National Forest Insect and Emergency Disease Act is co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Mark Udall and Republican Sen. James Risch of Idaho. It would enable the Forest Service to designate critical areas to clarify where the agency can streamline approvals for logging projects.

The measure could also help the Forest Service use provisions of the federal farm bill to offer incentives to companies seeking to convert dead trees into biofuel.

One of the most important provisions of the proposed law would help the Forest Service establish long-term stewardship contracts with logging companies to ensure a steady supply of wood in trade for the work they’re doing, a critical part of enticing loggers to tackle low-value beetle-killed lodgepole forests. (more…)

Filed under: energy, Environment, Forest health, forests, pine beetles and wildfires | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Preview: Peak 7 logging plan on Wildfire Council agenda

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Bob Berwyn

From afar, the Tenmile Range in Summit County proffers a classic mountain panorama, but up close, the forested flanks of the mountains are riddled with huge patches of beetle-killed and fire-prone trees.

If you go:
Wildfire Council meeting
1 p.m.
Mt. Royal Room, County Commons

The Summit County Wildfire Council may be facing a hornet’s nest of angry citizens at its Dec. 2 meeting, as residents of the Peak 7 neighborhood rally to scrutinize a major forest health logging proposal.

In its early stages, the plan includes large clear cuts up the flanks of the Tenmile Range near the county subdivision. The project includes other areas around Breckenridge, but the plan for the Peak 7 area has drawn the most attention.

Summit County officials, state foresters, the U.S. Forest Service and the Town of Breckenridge have worked closely to identify at-risk areas and to focus limited financial resources on protecting homes.

But in this case, some of people who live in the area are concerned that the forest managers are going too far. They claim the project would negatively affect the Peaks Trail, as well as wildlife habitat in the area.

Colorado Wild, an environmental group that watchdogs the Forest Service, has also chimed in, asking the agency to scale back the clear cuts in some areas and to make sure that areas with spruce trees are left along.

Jan Cutts, the district ranger for Summit County, said she heard the concerns loud and clear. The Forest Service plans to hold another open house on the project and is scheduling a site visit on either Dec. 5 or Dec. 7. To sign up and choose a preferred date, call the Dillon Ranger District at (970) 468-5400. (more…)

Filed under: Forest health, pine beetles and wildfires, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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