Letter: White River NF supervisor explains fire ban

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

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*Read: Colorado Western Slope firefighting resources stretched

Fire Restrictions and the Recreation Experience

By Scott Fitzwilliams

The wildland fire situation is serious with several large fires burning across Colorado.  Contributing factors for this include: low snowfall winter and a dryer that normal spring; an early fire season; and fire severity indicators that surpass the conditions we experienced in 2002, the year of the Coal Seam and Haymen Fires.

For example, moisture levels in forest fuels types are very low and both relative humidity (moisture in the air) and soil moisture are extremely low.  Fire severity indicators are at historic highs. The long term forecast shows continued hot and dry weather.  Because of the mountain pine beetle epidemic [and other factors, including decades of complete fire suppression], many areas of the forest have heavy fuel loads. (more…)

Filed under: climate and weather, Colorado, Drought, forest fires, pine beetles, US Forest Service, White River National Forest | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Letter: Breckenridge is big enough; say no to Peak 6

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Quality of life being compromised

Participants in a recent site visit to Peak 6 stop for lunch near the location of the proposed top terminal of a new six-seat chairlift.

Dear Mr. Fitzwilliams and staff,

I write in opposition to the Peak 6 expansion. As a 20 year resident and business owner, I have watched Breckenridge evolve from a charming ski town to a  “ski city” stumbling to keep on its feet. The towns infrastructure can barely handle the existing traffic, and  I believe more thought should be put in to this proposal because of this. I live here for the superb quality of life, but this too is slowly becoming compromised.

As a business owner I can appreciate the town wanting to increase revenue, but at what cost? Bigger is not always better … but Vail’s marketing plan is a good one. They certainly have the most to  gain from this, as do their shareholders. More terrain to advertise is by far the best option for them.

The beetle kill has had a devastating effect on both the  landscape and wildlife here. More time needs to be spent understanding the long term repercussions of this. Coupled with the town’s unbridled growth and development, we can’t be sure of the impact if we rush in to action for those precious dollars.

Enough is enough. The ski area is huge and on this trajectory it will never end. When will we be able to say no?

Thank you for your consideration and taking the time to read this.

Cassidy Brush, LEED AP

phone 970.262.6684

cassidy@wildsageinteriors

www.wildsageinteriors.com

 

 

Filed under: Breckenridge, Breckenridge Peak 6 expansion, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Colorado, Environment, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, US Forest Service, White River National Forest | Tagged: , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Breckenridge: Site visit planned for Peak 6 expansion area

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Visit the proposed Peak 6 expansion area at Breckenridge Ski Resort with U.S. Forest Service officials April 8. Click on the image to see the full-size map.

White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams and Dillon District Ranger Jan Cutts will join interested citizens for an April 8 tour of the Peak 6 area

SUMMIT COUNTY — White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams and Dillon District Ranger Jan Cutts will  lead an April 8 site visit at Breckenridge Ski Area to the proposed Peak 6 expansion area, where the resort wants to add a new lift and several hundred acres of new terrain to alleviate crowding.

According to a press release from the Forest Service, the site visit will accommodate the skiing and non-skiing public, with the intent of presenting some details on the plan and to allow citizens to ask questions. For details on the logistics, call snow ranger Shelly Grail at (970) 262-3484 or send her an e-mail: sgrail@fs.fed.us.

Grail said the main purpose of the site visit is to let people know about some of the changes to the proposal since it was first released, including a relocation of the bottom terminal and the elimination of a road from the existing Independence Chair on Peak 7 to the new Peak 6 terrain pod. Grail said the Forest Service hopes to spend about an hour at the site and make it up to treeline to look at some of the timber in the proposed expansion area. (more…)

Filed under: Breckenridge, Breckenridge Peak 6 expansion, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Colorado, Dillon Ranger District, ski industry, skiing and riding, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, White River National Forest | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments »

Controlled burns needed to treat dead lodgepoles

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

White River NF supervisor says mechanical treatments not enough for forest health; prescribed fires needed to clear dangerous fuels

Beetle-killed forests now dominate the landscape in Summit County. Prescribed fires are needed to help regenerate forests and clear dangerous fuels, according to White River NF supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Mechanical logging treatments aren’t enough to treat forests after the current outbreak of mountain pine beetles in Colorado, according to White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams, who continued to advocate for the reintroduction of fire into the landscape at a recent meeting of the Summit County Forest Health Task Force.

Fitzwilliams also addresses the topic in-depth on the Jan. 15 EarthUp program on Mountain Public Radio, airing at 8:30 a.m. In Summit County, tune in to 88.7 or 100.7, or listen online. The interview is also available on demand at the Earthup podcast site. Read more about some of the early Forest Service discussions on prescribed burns at this Summit Voice story.

This Summit Voice story describes research showing prescribed burns produce less CO2 emissions than out-of-control, catastrophic wildfires.

“Fire is a much more efficient and cost-effective way to remove fuels,” Fitzwilliams said, outlining a 10-year plan to build public support and to develop realistic prescribed fire projects that would clear some of the dead trees and vastly speed forest regeneration. (more…)

Filed under: air quality, Colorado, Dillon Ranger District, Environment, forest fires, Forest health, forests, pine beetles and wildfires, Summit County Colorado, US Forest Service, White River National Forest | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

White River NF chief visits forest health task force

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

The scale of the beetle-kill in Summit County is evident in this picture, from the trees along the shore of Dillon Reservoir to high up the slopes of the Ten Mile Range. Click on the image for the full-size view.

Fitzwilliams to discuss forest health plans at Jan. 13 meeting in Frisco

SUMMIT COUNTY — White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams isn’t afraid to talk about ecosystem restoration on a landscape scale. One of his recent initiatives includes a project in the Roaring Fork Valley that includes re-introducing fire to the landscape as a way of improving wildlife habitat.

Fitzwilliams will share his vision of a healthy, sustainable forest at the Jan.13 meeting of the forest health task force, set for 7:30 a.m. at the Frisco Community Center.

As the featured speaker, Fitzwilliams will lead a discussion about ongoing and planned initiatives to improve the condition of a forest devastated by a bark beetle infestation that has already destroyed three million acres of lodgepole pine trees in the state. He will  emphasize the role of public-private partnerships in addressing the increased risk of catastrophic wildfire due to high fuel loading both in the backcountry and its adjacent wildland-urban interface. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Dillon Ranger District, Environment, Forest health, forests, Summit County Colorado, US Forest Service, White River National Forest | Tagged: , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Op-ed: Roaring Fork project will improve habitat

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams.

White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams advocates for landscape-level intervention with controlled burns

By Scott Fitzwilliams

Managing ecosystems on a landscape scale is challenging, especially when we are talking about landscapes like the Roaring Fork Valley, where there is considerable human development.

No one agency manages all of the land; no one agency manages all of the resources. Native plants and animals do not know or recognize the difference between public land and private land. They are much more interested in what the habitat has to offer. Past and current management in the Roaring Fork has resulted in deteriorated habitat conditions that no longer support the healthy populations of native plants and animals that it could; this is especially true as human activity continues to encroach on valley habitat. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, Forest health, forests, Summit County news, US Forest Service, White River National Forest, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Commentary: Some wildfires benefit the environment

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams.

White River National Forest supervisor discusses management of the Meadow Creek Fire, near Rifle, Colorado

Read a related story on early planning by White River Forest Service experts to use fire as a restoration tool

By Scott Fitzwilliams

The Meadow Creek Fire started on June 26 near the top of a deep canyon on the edge of Clinetop Mesa. At this time it is 1,452 acres, a small figure compared to the ten-year average of 3.5 million acres of U.S. wildlands that burn every year.

The decision to not put firefighters into a steep-walled canyon with fire rolling downhill was an easy decision to make. Viewing the live web-cam made available for viewing the fire answers that inevitable question, “why didn’t you put it out right away.”

Managing wildland fire is a risky business. Responding to nature’s blazes is a complicated endeavor filled with uncertainty. Success happens when preparation meets opportunity.

The Meadow Creek Fire presented an opportunity that as a land manager I feel will prepare us for success. Keep in mind that my utmost consideration was, is and will always be responder and public safety and minimizing the impacts of fire to local communities. Next in importance comes protecting values including facilities and natural resources which could be damaged by fire. Using taxpayer money responsibly is also a priority. (more…)

Filed under: Environment, forest fires, forests, Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

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