Forest Health Issues in Northeast Colorado

The Colorado State Forest Service keeps an eye on all problems related to the Colorado forests. The best way to do that is to split the forests into four sections, as there are some slightly different issues among the areas.

In Northeast Colorado, there are three mean health issues for the CSFS to look out for. The biggest issues of them all are linked to pests in the area.

Drought Causes Stress to Trees

One of the biggest issues right now, which leads to other issues, is drought stress. The persistent drought conditions in the state have led to a decline in healthy and living trees. The CSFS has noticed that low elevation trees are among the most affected, including pins, Douglas-firs, aspens, and spruces.

There is a major concern with drought stress. You’ll immediately start to think about wildfires in the area. If the trees are dying due to a lack of water source, they are going to make the perfect fuel for fires. However, wildfires aren’t the biggest concern.

It’s all about bark beetle outbreaks. As trees become stressed due to drought conditions, their defenses are affected. This leads to an increase in beetle attacks. Over the years, we’ve seen new pockets of the mountain pine beetle, which grew to epidemic levels up to 2013 when it was finally under control. The CSFS needs to monitor the forest health to manage the growth of beetle colonies.

The Emerald Ash Borer Remains a Problem

The northern Front Range is being affected by the emerald ash borer. Erie was the latest part of Colorado to discover the pest in 2021, and it’s going to have spread across other towns and cities this year. It can take four years for visible signs of the EAB to show on trees, making it difficult to slow down the spread.

It’s essential for local people to remain vigilant and prepare for EAB in the area. The CSFS understands the concern and is working with locals to help manage the situation. You’ll even see the “Your Ash is on the Line” project in the area. You can get ash tree inventories at no charge around 36 communities in the area from the CSFS, and there are management plans available online as well as workshops and guidance.

The Deadly Spruce Beetle

Northeast Colorado is also being affected by the spruce beetle. In fact, this beetle is the deadliest of pests in the entire state. This beetle continues to head into territory previously un-infested, and it is attacking the high-elevation forests. Even Rocky Mountain National Park is seeing direct attacks.

The spruce beetle has taken advantage of the drought conditions. Forests are in major decline, and it’s up to the CSFS and local people to remain vigilant and help deal with the situation. Some of the treatments include thinning trees in the greener forests to help minimize drought stress and remove any of the dead and dying spruces in the area. Pheromone packets are recommended to help keep the beetles away.