Medicine Bow - Routt National Forests
Thunder Basin National Grassland

Introduction

Bark Beetle epidemics continue to grow on the Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests and other National Forests and private lands in Colorado and Wyoming . More than 1.5 million acres of forest in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming are affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic, which was triggered by an extended drought in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

By about 2012, beetles will have killed nearly all of the mature lodgepole trees in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, affecting water flows and watersheds, future timber production, wildlife habitat, recreation sites, transmission lines and scenic views. Beetle-killed trees also present a fuels build-up situation that could result in catastrophic wildland fires. These events pose threats to homes and property and could cause adverse economic impacts to communities.

The Forest Service is implementing numerous projects (fuel reduction, timber management) in cooperation with communities, municipalities, water conservation districts, and State agencies (forestry, transportation) to reduce the impact of wildland fires. Priority is given to projects that help protect watersheds, transmission lines, recreational sites and scenic views in the wildland/urban interface. In addition, these same partners are working together to develop emergency management strategies and organizations.

Facts

Trees are dying. Bark beetles are killing pine and spruce trees throughout northern Colorado , southern Wyoming and the western U.S. Although bark beetle outbreaks are natural, the current outbreak is a major threat to regional economics and public safety. The area most affected by beetles is the heart of Colorado 's tourism industry.

Bark beetles now impacted more than 1.5 million acres in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming .

Extended droughts, warm winters and old dense forests have caused this epidemic to become so vast.

This epidemic cannot be stopped. The Forest Service and numerous partners are working to reduce wildfire hazards in affected areas and to promote healthy forests in areas that have not yet been attacked.

The mass of dead trees following beetle epidemics create severe fire hazards.

A strong and coordinated effort is the only way to address an epidemic of this size and severity. Many efforts are currently underway on private and public lands.

Our efforts are focused on timber harvest and fuel reduction to protect homes, ski areas, recreation sites, drinking-supply watersheds and areas along roads and transmission lines.

Efforts are focused on high priority areas where we can get the most accomplished, striving to act decisively across ownership boundaries in the most cost-effective and environmentally sound way.

These actions will focus on the Next Forest , the Next Forest Community, and the Next Forest Economy with our investment concentrated on building resilience in our forests and reducing the risk of loss when large scale fires move across the landscape.

Collectively, we are working toward a sustainable forest products industry for northern Colorado and southern Wyoming . Local communities have economies that are tied to surrounding forests. Efforts are community-based to insure that outcomes are aligned with local community visions.

Affects to Recreation

Some campgrounds will be closed or have delayed openings so that crews can remove beetle-killed trees. These trees can fall without warning. See http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/recreation/camping for current campground information .

Watch Out! For falling trees in the Forest .

WATCH OUT !!

The following are guidelines to help you avoid risks.

• Be aware of your surroundings.

• If you are in the forest when the winds increase, head to a clearing out of reach of any possible falling trees.

• Put vehicles and camps in areas where they will not be hit if a tree falls.

• Park close to a main road; if trees fall across the road you may be trapped.

• Bring an ax or chainsaw to remove fallen trees from roads.

• There is poor cell phone coverage in many areas of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests.

Falling trees are a hazard when you're in the Forest .

Colorado

Wyoming

Rocky Mountain Region

  Regional Bark Beetle Information - "What's the Forest Service Doing?"