Crystal Lakes
Forest Health
Inspect Your Trees at Least Twice Per Year
Due to the warming of our climate, it is now possible for the Mountain Pine Beetle to produce a second generation of beetles in a single year instead of normally just one generation. It is also
possible for the IPS Beetle to produce 3-4 generations of beetles in a single year. However, in a normal cycle the new generation of Mountain Pine Beetles fly to infest other trees between
approximately early July through late September. Therefore, a useful time to do your inspections is in April-June or October-November to allow time for planning your treatment strategy. Use the
Beetle-Buster Flip Chart as your inspection guide.
Note: This is a large file and it may take some time to load.
Plan your Integrated Pest Management Program
Fell and remove infested and dead trees, thin tree stands for forest health and wildfire control, and implement preventive spraying and/or alternative treatment tactics. However, do not perform any
nonessential felling or trimming of trees during the flight season of the beetles. See our list of referrals for contacts to Local Resources for professional
forestry contractors. Clean up slash and downed trees/limbs. Slash piles are favorite breeding areas for IPS Beetles. We are recommending that property owners chip and spread slash on their lots by
renting chipping machines to help ease the burden on the community slash disposal project. Watch for News & Bulletins about a possible group discount
purchase of Verbenone patches in the spring.
Start a New Forest
Order tree seedlings at a group rate from the Colorado State Forest Service for the reforestation of your property. Watch for News & Bulletins about placing
orders for seedlings or click on the Greenbelt Management Committee Seedling Program for more information.
Forest Health Report
To view a comprehensive report on the health of Colorado's forests click on one of the following documents.
The 2009 Report on the Health of Colorado's Forests is a special issue that details the threats to Colorado's current and future forest resources. Please click on the photo to read this document.
Note: This is a large PDF file and may take some time to load.
The 2010 Report on the Health of Colorado's Forests provides an overview of the current health and conditions of the state's forests.
Note: This is a large PDF file and may take some time to load.
"A Northern Front Range Landowner Guide to Living With Bark Beetles"
Pine beetles are changing the look of forests throughout the West. Although the forests will recover, many property owners will see trees around them die. Each homeowner can take steps to minimize the impact on their land, speed the recovery of the forest around them, and minimize the danger of wildfire to their property...
"Wildfire Mitigation Measures Subtraction"
As authorized by §39-22-104(4)(n), C.R.S., for income tax years 2009 through 2013 individuals, estates and trusts may subtract from federal taxable income 50% of the costs incurred in performing wildfire mitigation measures that meet the following qualifications and limitations...
Guide to Thinning
Adobe Acrobat document [19.5 KB]
Guide to Identification of Conifers
Adobe Acrobat document [362.0 KB]
Home Fire Protection
Adobe Acrobat document [113.6 KB]
Our Goal
We hope to help mitigate the devastation caused by the pine beetle epidemic in our community. We hope to offer the latest information, advice, and education about
pine beetle topics. We hope to help our neighbors identify the signs of pine beetle infestation on their properties and recommend tactics for combating the epidemic. We will work together as a
community toward achieving a healthy forest, one of our most important and valuable assets.
Contact us at:
Crystal Lakes Beetle Busters
300 Tami Road
Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545
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