Copy
View this email in your browser


Meeker Park CFSY Closing Day: Saturday, October 16.
Nederland CFSY Closing Day: Saturday, October 23.


For information on Inclement Weather (Snow), and Closings, call 303-678-6368.


July Edition Includes

  • Drought Update
  • Meeker Park CFSY Update ft. "In Tune with the June Monsoon"
  • Nederland CFSY Update ft. "Nederland's Cold Springs Fire (July 2016): A Glimpse into the Forest Five Years Later"
  • Safety in the Sort Yard
  • July Wildfire Preparation Checklist
  • The Home Ignition Zone
  • Wildfire Partners
  • Office of Emergency Management 
  • Noxious Weed of the Month 
  • Material Request Form

Drought Update


Colorado drought conditions have remained mostly unchanged across the state. Monsoon rains along the Front Range brought a respite from the summer heat and slowed wildfires in the northern corridor, but the western slope looks to little hope for major improvements. For the region at large, NOAA Forecaster Rich Tinker describes:
 
"During the last four weeks, below-normal precipitation and an unprecedented heat wave in the Northwest abetted drought expansion and intensification in the West. At mid-July 2021, drought covered the Upper Midwest, the northern Plains, and almost all areas from the Rockies westward. Conditions promoted the rapid development and expansion of western wildfires during the first half of July... Meanwhile, farther south and east, a slow decline in drought extent and intensity continued. South and east of the northern Plains, drought is now restricted to parts of the Great Lakes, the upper Northeast, and southern Puerto Rico. This general pattern is expected to continue through October, with further improvements in the central and eastern states, and more expansion and intensification in the northern Plains, Rockies, Far West, and Hawaii. Any improvement there should be limited to the southern sections of the High Plains and Rockies, where heavy monsoon-related showers and thunderstorms are expected during the first few weeks of the period."

Meeker Park CFSY Update

By Jon Clark

Our usage increased dramatically at the end of May through June. We've seen this pattern for years as slash piles dry off and fire season begins, so it's hardly unexpected. However, we can still compare our intake this year to the intake from the same time last year. Here's what we found:

Some trends remained the same; slash is still our biggest intake, fire mitigation is the biggest reason for removal, and our overall material volume processing is increasing. Through 1,101 loads over 29 operating days in May and June, we averaged almost 38 loads per day. Last year by this time, we operated a total of eight days in June, took in 615 loads, and averaged almost 77 loads per day. However, while the daily load counts were higher last year, I suspect this is due to the late opening. In terms of total volume, we outdid last year's cumulative totals at the start of July by nearly fourfold with almost 83,000 cubic feet worth of material, and our daily average material intake has increased by 15%, largely attributed to slash.

Nevertheless, it should be known that these numbers are based on human visual estimates from each load. A few cubic feet off here or there can add up significantly, so we tend to learn more from the macro trends. With that in mind, it's safe to say a few things:
  • Our average daily load counts have decreased since last year at this time.
  • Our usage has increased in terms of how much material is being sent to the Meeker Park CFSY on a daily basis.
  • Slash, pine needles, wood chips, and logs are are largest contributors.
  • Fire mitigation is still the overwhelming reason that our users remove material from their properties.
By now you probably know that the removal location of your loads plays a huge role in our tracking. Below are two important figures describing how many loads from each county come to the Meeker CFSY and how many loads come to the program from surrounding cities and towns. For one thing, a noticeable majority of the Meeker Park CFSY's users come from Larimer County.
If you take a glance below, you'll see that the second highest number of loads for the whole program came from Estes Park in Larimer County. This suggests that most of Meeker Park's Larimer County users are coming from Estes Park to drop off their materials. We think it's likely that their proximity to the sort yard combined with the psychological impacts of the East Troublesome and the Cameron Peak fire caused many new users to increase their mitigation efforts, changing the user base' geography.
Announcements
Many of the counties served by the sort yards have enacted stage 1 or higher fire restrictions. This applies to western Boulder County as well, so be sure to check both your county fire restriction portal (links below) and the fire weather for the day. Additionally, if you're in Boulder County, take a look through this flyer to learn what stage 1 fire restrictions look like.
On a related note, the notorious mountain pine beetle enters the flight stage of its life in July and August each year. Take extra cautions when transporting potentially infested slash to avoid spreading populations to areas that might not be afflicted. This could mean waiting to bring down a tree if you see pitch holes or sawdust at its base until their flight season is over, or it could mean tying a tarp or other barrier around your slash as you transport it off your property.

In Tune with the June Monsoon

By Jon Clark
Thunderheads obscuring Meeker and Longs Peak. June 30, 2021.
If you've lived in Colorado for a while, then you're probably familiar with our seasonal weather patterns. Sporadic and unpredictable as they may be, especially at high elevations, this last burst of storms surprised everyone with its ferocity and longevity. What happened, and why did northern Colorado suddenly release flash flood warnings reminiscent of the 2013 monsoon cycle that caused nearly $4 billion in damage and left ten people dead? These are impacts of a Colorado regional climate function that has exhibited concerning changes: the monsoon.

Let's start with where the water actually comes from. Colorado's regional climate is usually semi-arid or arid. Drought conditions have gripped the West for years of varying severity. Snow melt and underground springs can't possibly account for days of precipitation reaching into multiple inches of rain. Aren't monsoons a tropical phenomenon? Why would they happen here?

The North American Monsoon
Global air currents constantly move air around the world. They're the reason hurricanes from West Africa travel all the way to Florida. They're also the reason that moist air from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans can move unfathomable amounts of water vapor into Colorado. We call this phenomenon the North American Monsoon.
 
"The North American Monsoon (or NAM) is a shift in the wind pattern that allows for continuous moisture to flow from the Gulf of California into the normally arid southwest region of the country. This usually happens when a strategically centered high pressure (with clockwise flow around it) and low pressure (with counterclockwise flow around it) settle in over the region, like the first picture shown." From the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University [1].

You might notice the "jet stream" labelled in the graphic above. Through the year, it's path changes due to the earth's revolution around the sun creating uneven heating patterns. In this case, it interacts with the southern wind patterns blowing westward to produce cyclonic behavior (represented by the arrows around the high pressure area, labelled "H"). This depicts a relatively normal year, but over the last few years we've seen significant variations in both behavior and impacts. For instance, last year the monsoon hardly came until October showers finally doused the brittle summer earth. This year, the monsoons came uncharacteristically early. Since early June, monsoons have maintained weeks of afternoon storms.

Flooding and Mudslides
I mentioned the 2013 monsoon cycle for a reason. Water came from the same place as this year's monsoon. The vast majority fell on northern Colorado within the span of a week in September. In only 24 hours, 9.08 inches fell on Boulder. By the end, the total was up to 17.24 inches of precipitation (some years don't even see that much rain). With such extreme impacts, scientists considered it a 1000-year rain accompanied by a 100-year flood event [2].

Due to the climate and topography of Boulder County, water quickly reaches the point where it runs off of soil, roads, and rocks. It then collects at low points and gathers momentum and volume as it crashes down river canyons, eventually flooding the adjacent plains. With the sheer density and length of the 2013 monsoon, its damage was catastrophic to homes, infrastructure, and ecosystems.

Now, eight years later, we've seen about three years without significant monsoons. To put everything in perspective, this June's notable rainfall tendered just under 2 inches [3]. Nevertheless, flood warnings replacing smoke and fire danger notifications remind us that the monsoon can also interact with Colorado's wildfires.
After escaping relentless hail and heavy rainfall, I took this photo of the perpetrating thunderstorm as I moved into a clearing along Peak to Peak Highway. In the distance, plumes of vapor rise over the plains. 7/2/21.
The monsoon is one of the most obvious phenomena that change fire behavior. Water in the soil, air, and plants provides a natural check to high intensity wildfires because it increases the amount of energy needed to burn through moist brush. On the other hand, we've also seen how the monsoon can soak through burn scars from previous years, causing mudslides. Have you gone west on I-70 towards Glenwood Canyon lately? It's been hit or miss for closures and partial closures.

This is due to the low stability of soil in burn scars that have yet to heal. In the I-70 corridor, we're seeing this from the Pinewood Springs fire last summer. A little rain can take the whole top layer sliding down the mountain in a sloppy roar that rivals avalanches. Word to the wise, don't get caught under a mudslide in a rainstorm.

Looking Ahead
The North American monsoon in Colorado is a classic case of duality. Too much rain causes severe flooding and mudslides, but too little exacerbates drought and fire danger, like we saw last summer as the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires raged into fall. We're likely to see more, longer stretches of years with little precipitation and low ground retention as climate change progresses. Not only is this dangerous to agriculture and municipal water sources, it suggests that any monsoons that still come will create flash floods more readily as it takes less precipitation to run off sun-scorched soil.

The best solution at this time is to dramatically reduce and recapture carbon emissions, allowing the atmospheric conditions that enable the planet's life sustaining cycles to rebalance. As one of these regional cycles, the North American monsoon has an essential role in regulating Colorado's climate from year to year, which reduces the impacts of high intensity wildfires, rehydrates the land until the seasons change, and cools the air during the hottest part of the year. The changes in its arrival time, like this year's early June bursts, and size, like last year's persevering dry weather, are concerning to Colorado residents and ecosystems alike.

Sources
[1] The North American Monsoon - Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University

[2] The 2013 Boulder Flood: Four Years and Three Billion Dollars Later - BoulderCast

[3] Boulder Monthly Climate Data: Precipitation - NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory

Nederland CFSY Update

By Dan Buelow
 
During the month of June the Nederland CFSY was open for operation for 17 days and received a total of 800 loads resulting in an average of 47 loads per day. While these numbers were certainly an increase from the actuals received for the month of May 2021 (461 loads in 17 days of operation for an average of 27 loads per day), comparatively speaking, yard visits and activity was far below the actuals we experienced a year ago in June 2020 (1,339 loads in 16 days of operation for an average of 84 loads per day). Our busiest day in June 2021 was Saturday, June 5, when we received a total of 75 loads in one day. Interestingly, this record load count for a single day this year was well below the average daily load count for June 2020 of 84 loads per day! Total load counts for the month of June were down 40% from June 2020.
 
Material volume comparisons from June 2021 to June 2020 confirm that yard usage and loads received were down this June from last June. Total material volume received at the Nederland CFSY this June was 33,244 cubic feet, down 22% from the 42,579 cubic feet of material received in June 2020. The only material we saw an increase in volume for June 2021 over June 2020 was wood chips. This anomaly may be due to the fact that Boulder County's Wildfire Partners began their free curbside chipping program this June unlike in 2020 when Wildfire Partners began their free curbside chipping in July. Thank you, Wildfire Partners!


 
 
The lower yard usage numbers in June 2021 compared to June 2020 may be partly explained due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nederland CFSY did not open for operation in 2020 until June 3. Many residents were at home last year in May and June and may have been more active in performing fire mitigation activities. Once the yard opened in 2020, residents and contractors may have been prepared to deliver more loads and higher volumes of materials. Additionally, this June at the yard we experienced many different weather patterns from sizzling hot, dry, and sunny weather at the beginning of the month to wet and rainy monsoonal weather at the end the month. Rain and thunderstorms occurred on five of our 17 days of June operation. Even with all that moisture late in the month we also experienced our first Red Flag Warning day on June 23, and on June 25 Stage 1 fire restrictions were enacted and stayed in place for the remainder of the month for unincorporated western Boulder County. Wildland fire smoke was present in the air in Boulder County on multiple days in June. On June 16 there was a lightning caused 1-acre fire on private land in Gilpin County near Rollinsville. Thankfully that fire was quickly identified, contained, and extinguished. Finally, on June 22 and June 23, all Boulder County residents were humbly reminded of the ever present potential of wildfire as a lot of smoke blew up and over the Continental Divide and into Boulder County from the Muddy Slide fire burning to the west in Routt County.

Nederland's Cold Springs Fire (July 2016): A Glimpse into the Forest Five Years Later

By Dan Buelow

1 1   
Cold Springs Fire Burn Scar: Photo Taken 7/7/2021  Cold Springs Fire Burn Scar: Photo Taken 7/7/2021

This July marks five years since the destructive Cold Springs Fire occurred in Nederland, Colorado. On Saturday, July 9, 2016, first reports of the fire identified it burning two miles northeast of Nederland. The fire was human caused and sparked as a direct result of an abandoned campfire that was improperly extinguished by three transients who were illegally camping on private property.2,3 Hot, dry, and windy conditions provided an opportunistic environment for the fire to move very quickly into the abundance of dry fuels in the surrounding forest. The fire ran wild and with partial containment for five days until it was fully contained on Thursday, July 14, 2016. Thanks to the valiant efforts and heroism of firefighters, emergency fire management teams, sheriff’s offices and first responders, and the coming together and support from residents across the Nederland community and Boulder County, no human lives were lost in the fire. Fire crews worked around the clock to protect lives and property fighting the fire on the ground near and around homes, constructed fire lines in strategic locations to suppress fire movement, and performed aerial helicopter water drops from nearby Barker Reservoir and airplane fire retardant slurry drops from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. Sadly, eight homes worth an estimated $2.43 million and seven outbuildings were lost.2,3 In total, the fire burned 528 acres (430 acres on privately owned land and 98 acres on US Forest Service property), displaced more than 1,900 residents for many days under mandatory evacuation orders and threatened over 1,000 homes.2,4

The Forest Prior to the Cold Springs Fire
5    5    5
                   Cold Springs Fire Surrounding Undisturbed Forest: Photos Taken 7/9/2021 

Key characteristics of the forest’s ecosystem prior to the fire can be observed today upon inspection of the undisturbed forest located directly outside the burn area. East of the burn perimeter we observe that the forest tree canopy consists predominantly of a mixture of lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, and aspen; shrub species range from ground junipers, kinnikinnick, and woods roses, to waxflower and antelope bitterbrush; and perennial and annual herbaceous species are of sages, penstemons, geraniums, bellflowers, sulphur flowers, potentillas, various grasses, and occasional noxious weeds. Dead and dry woody fuels and debris exist in the forest in the form of fallen, snagged, and dead standing trees and shrubs. The soil throughout the forest is best described as a very coarse, rocky to sandy soil. Since there is only a thin layer of organic matter and duff on the soil surface in areas via fallen needles, leaves, and twigs, the soil is presumably very low in nutrient content and water holding capacities. Wildlife that call this area home are elk, mule deer, moose, coyote, fox, racoon, bear, mountain lion, frogs, snakes, ravens, woodpeckers and hummingbirds to name a few.

The Forest within the Burn Area Five Years After the Cold Springs Fire
666 66
                           Cold Springs Fire Forest Within the Burn Area: Photos Taken 7/8/2021 

Today, the forest within the Cold Springs fire burn area is a living example of an ecosystem in the process of complete rejuvenation and immense growth. Upon first glance into the burn area, attention is immediately drawn to the thousands upon thousands of burned dead trees that still remain standing throughout the landscape. Heavy debris fields and accumulations of fallen and uprooted dead trees, limbs, and other debris lay strewn across the ground as a result of wind throw and wind damages that have occurred over the years. Areas within the burn zone that appear free of dead trees and downed materials are mostly found located on private property or along major roadways where homeowners, local residents, and maintenance crews have been busy working since the fire to remove hazardous materials for safety purposes, aesthetics, or to harvest firewood. Save for a few living ponderosa and lodgepole pines and aspen trees that were spared from the fire, a majority of the vegetation in the path of the fire originally burned to the soil level and left the area charred brown and black, the soil unstable and susceptible to erosion, and the landscape desolate of plants. You would not observe these features today as these days young trees, groundcovers, and herbaceous plant life have rapidly repopulated the burn area in impressive numbers and variety, and are providing the soil with improved stability and resistance to erosion, and are giving the area a green and lively appearance. 
 
Aspen trees are increasingly on the rise where mature aspens colonies grew prior to the fire. Aspen regrowth is already up to 6 feet tall or more. If you look closely, young lodgepole pine seedlings have also emerged from the ashes, their cones opened, and seeds set free by the fire. Many lodgepole seedlings are now 12-18” tall. Like the aspen, lodgepole are growing extremely dense and too closely together in many areas and over time will require thinning for the best forest tree canopy health. Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir are not observed coming up at this time as surface and soil temperatures may have been two hot during the fire for their seeds to survive. It will take a very long time, but we would anticipate that ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir will likely return to the area by seed from the surrounding forest or from residual trees. Clearly, the fire has restarted and restored the forest to cycle back to the natural and native forest canopy of aspen and lodgepole pine.
 
Close inspection of the vegetation at ground level reveals remarkable growth and repopulation of many different species of annual, perennial, and biennial herbaceous plants, grasses, and yes, noxious weeds. Herbaceous plant species observed this July coloring the hillsides in the eastern portions of the burn scar include various sages, penstemons, geraniums, Indian paintbrush, fireweed, blanket flower, cinquefoils, yarrows, and many others. Several noxious weed plant species are also observed populating highly disturbed areas, particularly those along roadsides and areas where no other plants are growing, and include common mullein, thistles, cheatgrass and more. Interestingly, very aggressive populations of common mullein now exist throughout the burn area, while very few mulleins are found in forested areas outside the burn area.
 
Wildlife in the area was displaced for a short time during and after the wildfire; however, much of the wildlife has returned. Elk, moose, mule deer, fox, coyote, racoon, and others are all observed routinely moving about and grazing on fresh vegetation throughout the burn scar. In fact, the elk, moose, and mule deer that have returned appear healthily and happily browsing on the new buffet of plant life. Given the elk heard that frequents the area (30 plus individuals) and the considerable amount of vegetation that a single moose can consume in one day, it is impressive that the aspen and other vegetation is filling in as quickly and as densely as they appear. Many birds have also returned including ravens and many hummingbirds who have enjoyed the emergence and nectar of many native wildflowers in the area.

Retrospect Observations and Discussion to Consider about the Cold Springs Fire

The Cold Springs Fire and resulting damages and losses all occurred because a campfire was abandoned and not properly extinguished. Had proper respect for fire and proper extinguishment of the campfire been practiced, this fire and its damages, as well as the costs and risks associated with fighting, containing, and extinguishing the fire would have been avoided. Flammable fuels are always present in a forest and all a wildfire needs to get started is a spark. Whether a campfire, a lit cigarette butt, or a controlled slash pile burn, always be conscious of fire and its danger to the forest, property, and lives around you and make sure all fires you are responsible for are properly extinguished. Keep an eye out for Red Flag Warning days and always obey county enacted fire and burn restrictions.

Thankfully, no human lives were lost in the Cold Springs Fire; however, some residents within the burn area lost everything on their property including their home and the forest around them that they had known and loved. Nature is remarkable and the forest will rejuvenate, adapt to, and overcome the challenges caused by the wildfire; however, this forest's full regrowth and return to maturity will take decades upon decades to occur. If you visit the burn area to witness first hand the impressive regrowth of the forest already underway, please be respectful of all local residents and their losses and remember that we all play an important part and responsibility in making sure that the next wildland fire is not human caused.

Lastly, for those of us that live in the foothill and mountainous regions of Colorado, understand that fire in the foothills and mountains is a natural and inevitable process. It is not a matter of "if" a fire will occur but "when." If we learned any valuable lessons from the Cold Springs Fire, it is that the threat and potential for wildland fire is always present and that the best defense to protect our homes and property against wildland fire is to develop and have in place a wildfire mitigation plan and that we diligently perform mitigation work on a yearly basis. Creating defensible space around your home and throughout your property may be the difference between saving or losing your home in the event of a wildfire.

If you are interested in learning more about creating defensible space around your house please view the Colorado State Forest Service's publication "The Home Ignition Zone," a guide to preparing your home for wildfire and creating defensible space.

If you are interested in learning more about a specific Wildfire Partners Case Study detailing a successful fire mitigation plan that helped save a home from being lost in the Cold Springs Fire click here. This remarkable study details the wildfire mitigation plan and work that was done that successfully protected a home within the Cold Springs burn area and looks more closely at details about the fire's behavior and destruction.7 

For more general information about the Cold Springs Fire and to be directed to the Wildfire Partners Cold Springs Fire page and to view a video about "Home Survival Success Stories" related to the Cold Springs Fire click here.8

Literature Cited
1Buelow, D. July 7, 2021. Picture of Cold Springs Fire Burn Area.
2 Wildfire Partners. Retrieved on July 9, 2021. https://bouldercounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=9ceb4d1c33274c88af2aadc5abf77bcb
3Byars, M. July 14, 2016. Retrieved on October 6, 2016. http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-countynews/ci_30126387/remaining-cold-springs-fire-evacuees-will-be-allowed
4Earth Lab. September 11, 2020. Intermediate Earth Science Textbook. Chapter 22. https://www.earthdatascience.org/courses/use-data-open-source-python/data-stories/cold-springs-wildfire/
5Buelow, D. July 9, 2021. Picture of Cold Springs Fire Surrounding Forest.
6Buelow, D. July 8, 2021. Picture of Cold Springs Fire Inside the Burn Area.
7Wildfire Partners. Retrieved on July 9, 2021. http://www.wildfirepartners.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Cold-Springs-Fire-141-Sherwood-Rd-A-Case-Study.pdf
8Wildfire Partners. Retrieved on July 9, 2021. https://bouldercounty.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=9ceb4d1c33274c88af2aadc5abf77bcb

Safety in the Sort Yards

"Lightning in a Sunset Thunderstorm" by Jeff Sullivan (www.JeffSullivanPhotography.com) is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

 

Lightning Safety: A Shocking Topic


Sometimes we say that there's a better chance of getting struck by lightning than some impossibly unlikely event, but lightning still kills more than 2,000 people per year. In Colorado, the odds are a good bit higher than most other states, and your personal risk might be higher than statistics from the general population depending on where you work, live, and recreate. Following are some facts, statistics, risk factors, and safety precautions to keep in mind during the Summer season.

Lightning Facts and Stats [1], [2]
  • Last Lightning Death in Boulder County: 2019
  • Potential Striking Distance from a Storm: 25 miles
  • Lightning-Caused Colorado Wildfires: 25%
  • Average Charge of a Lightning Bolt: 300 Million Volts
  • Top Temperature of a Lightning Bolt: 50,000 Degrees F
  • U.S. Average Annual Deaths: 27
  • U.S. Average Annual Injuries: 243
  • Percent of Fatal Strikes: 10%
  • Percent of Injuries from Strikes: 90% 
  • Colorado's National Fatality Rank: 7th
  • Colorado Average Annual Deaths: 2
  • Colorado Average Annual Injuries: 12
  • Men are historically four times more likely to be killed or injured by lightning than women in Boulder County.

Lightning Risks
  • The presence of thunderstorms
    • If you see rolling dark clouds, if the weather calls for classic afternoon thunderstorms, or if you hear thunder (no matter how distant), then it's time to think about shelter.
  • High elevation
    • Lightning is more likely to strike high points because the distance between a positive charge on the ground and the negative origin of the electrical charge is shorter.
  • Exposure
    • Similarly, the lack of trees, peaks, or other cover means that the most likely location of a strike could be you.
  • Conduction
    • Lightning doesn't have to strike your body directly to injure you. Nearby trees, water, poles, or even the ground could create a pathway between the strike and your body for lightning to reach you.
Lightning Safety
  • Seek shelter when you hear thunder.
  • Check the weather forecast and have a backup plan if you're spending your day in the mountains.
  • Stay sheltered for at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.
  • If you can't find shelter, stay away from tall objects and conductors like trees, cliffs, bodies of water, or power lines.
  • If you think you're at risk of being struck by lightning, crouch on a backpack or jacket instead of laying or sitting on the ground.
  • For more information, safety tips, and resources, check out this Lightning Safety Brochure from NOAA.
If you see a fire ignited by a lightning strike, call your local fire department or dial 911. If you see someone struck by lightning, call 911 and immediately render first aid and CPR as needed.

Sources
[1] How Dangerous is Lightning? - National Weather Service
[2] Colorado Lightning Awareness Week June 20-26, 2021 - NWS Colorado Offices

July Wildfire Preparation Checklist


As the wildfire season bears its teeth, lightning strikes more often, and the smell of smoke permeates the air,  here are some yearly maintenance items to keep a good defensible space around the Home Ignition Zones (HIZ):
  • Remove all pine needles, wood chips, grasses, and shrubs within 5 feet of structures (beyond HIZ 1).
  • Move all firewood and outdoor combustible fuels (propane cannisters, gasoline containers, etc.) at least 30 feet from the house (beyond HIZ 2).
  • Remove organic matter that has accumulated on your vehicles and roofs.
  • Familiarize yourself with the new CSFS Home Ignition Guide 2021
  • Review your emergency action and evacuation plans
  • Check your county wildfire portal for information on fire bans and red flag status.
Please remember that the HIZ are the minimum distance for your defensible space. You can also expand these zones, especially if the slope below your structure is greater than 20%.
National Weather Service Fire Weather Forecast
Boulder County Fire Restrictions
Larimer County Fire Restrictions
Gilpin County Fire Restrictions
Jefferson County Fire Restrictions

Are you prepared? Change the fire's behavior, and you could change the fire's impact.

 

Tip: Brush up on your at-home mitigation efforts, and remember that properties on a slope should think about extending their zones back proportionally to the incline.

 

Wildfire Partners 

Could your home survive a wildfire? Don’t miss out! Wildfire Partners is offering free assessments through a special grant with FEMA. Apply today and find out what actions you can take to protect your home.

Leslie Brodhead
Wildfire Partners Program Specialist
303-441-1420
lbrodhead@bouldercounty.org
www.wildfirepartners.org 
Apply Now

Office of Emergency Management

If you have not already sign up for emergency notification. Click on the link below to get signed up. 
Sign up for Emergency Notifications

Noxious Weed of the Month: Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
 
1

  • Colorado List C Noxious Weed Species. 
  • Biennial. Second-year growth up to 6 ft. tall.
  • Yellow five-petalled flower in spike up to 20 in. tall.
  • Reproduces by seed only but seeds remain viable in soil for 100 years.
  • Flowering and seed production occur June-August.
  • Each plant may produce 100,000 to 250,000 seeds.
  • Manage by hand pulling or digging or prevent flowers and seeding by removing and disposing of flower spikes.
  • Hairy leaves light green to yellow to gray coloration.2
Learn more about Common Mullein.

Literature Cited:
1Buelow, D. 2021. Picture.
2Colorado Department of Agriculture. 08/09. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G1yVlMSKgIUU3bx78Z_Msq6mODnHmJiz/view



In the following months, we will have information on noxious weeds that you should be aware of as the year progress. Learn more at Boulder County Noxious Weeds & Invasive Species Management

New This Year: Material Request Form 

We are using an online request form for wood chips, compost-like material, and other woody material. Material will only be given to those who have an approved form. This short form can be found on the website. It is sent to the Community Forestry Sort Yard Coordinator and the Parks & Open Space Senior Forestry Resource Specialist to review and approve. You will receive an email once you are approved and a copy will be sent to the yard operator.  
Material Request Form

Thank you for reading!

The next newsletter will be sent out in mid-August.

Jon Clark
Meeker Park CFSY Operator

Dan Buelow
Nederland CFSY Operator

Wayne Harrington
Sort Yard Coordinator

Twitter
Website
Copyright © 2021 Boulder County Parks & Open Space, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp