Bark beetle infestation poses two challenges

In Attendance

Sandy Briggs, Our Future Summit

Ben Grove, Frisco Heights HOA

Carl Spaulding Colorado Timber Industry Association 

Gene Dayton,  Log and Timber Recycling

Karn Stieglemier,  Friends of the Lower Blue River

John Taylor, Eagle’s Nest HOA

Howard Hallman,  Our Future Summit

Sloan Shoemaker, Wilderness Workshop

Kevin Reader,  University of Illinois

Courtney Flint,  University of Illinois

Patti McGuire,  Summit Wildfire Mitigation Officer

Kimberly Nicoletti, Summit Daily News

Don Parsons, Our Future Summit

David Weihnacht, summitpinebeetle.org

 

Sloan Shoemaker, executive director of the Wilderness Workshop, a wildlands advocacy group based in Pitkin County, told a meeting of the Summit County Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force today that our bark beetle infestation poses two challenges, the threat of fire in the urban wildland interface and the nature of the post infestation forest. 

 

Fire can have a large impact on social and human values. Decisions about reforestation impact the ecological integrity of wildlands.  Shoemaker showed a film that demonstrated how homes react to wildfire events. Three elements are necessary for a fire – oxygen, heat and fuel. One of three events can cause a fire to spread to a home:

• Combustion - spontaneous ignition
• Convection - radiation from flames
• Firebrands - spot ignition from burning embers that may travel over a mile.

A community should use its resources to mitigate potential fire events in urban wildland interface areas. Property owners can reduce the risk of damage from wildfire by replacing wood roofs and siding with fire resistant materials. The conservation community wants the public to know that it is possible to survive wildfires with proper preparation.

 

Bark beetle infestations are one of many natural methods nature has of regenerating forests and urged the task force not to endorse landscape scale salvage and sanitation restoration projects to deter the spread of the pine beetle or promote reforestation. There is little evidence that such an approach is effective, in his opinion.   Such solutions can damage the soil and hinder recovery of the ecosystem. 

 

Howard Hallman suggested that the current infestation might be an abnormal occurrence due to  climate change and the effects of drought. He also pointed out that since Summit County is a tourist destination, the local economy is driven in part by the scenic and recreation values of the area. Protection of our watershed is also vital.

 

Sloan countered that these types of events are not outside normal parameters. Ecosystems are resilient and human attempts to engineer the forest are not productive. We do not need to remove biomass and wood fiber from forest. Doing so may retard regrowth. He suggested that we view this as opportunity to see ecology in action.

 

Patti McGuire observed that most Summit County homesites do not contain sufficient acreage to allow adequate (200’) defensible space. Of greatest concern will be jackstraw fires occurring when  regrowth, mingled with existing biomass, ignites.

 

Bob French noted that the County Commissioners are primarily concerned with property damage. If we can protect scenic view sheds, fine, yet their priority is to preserve property values. Sloan maintained that managing forests involves a long term commitment of resources. Once man interrupts natural events, unforeseen consequences can arise. While forest managers may be well meaning, we should be open to alternative proscriptions.

 

Don Parsons reminded the gathering that government often does not have the authority to enforce fire mitigation policy on private property. Sloan replied that homeowners are responsible for their own property. It is not up to the government to protect homes whose owners have not taken measures to defend. We should not place firefighters at risk to fight wildfires on property that isn’t defensible.

 

Sandy Briggs wondered if the insurance industry might help by providing economic incentives for home owners to better protect their property. Sloan replied that such an approach might work as people do respond quickly to issues affecting their pocketbooks.

 

Carl Spaulding took issue with Sloan’s viewpoint .  Our forest is overstocked with even aged stands. The current outbreak may be more severe due to the lack of  timely forest management. He cited the Mt. St Helens area as an example. Managed areas there have regenerated far better than unmanaged areas.