What is the Bailey Healthy Forests Initiative
We are a group of Partners helping to implement a variety of forest & river health Projects.
Fire Adapted Communities Network Annual Conference
Thanks to everyone who came out to Colorado for the Fire Adapted Communities Network Annual Conference last week! This was a great gathering with tons of valuable information shared.
Trust Planning Guide
Drawing on research and management experience in Australia, Canada, and the United States, Trust: A Planning Guide for Wildfire Agencies and Practitioners is a great resource for wildfire managers and communities. This document was a collaboration between Oregon State University, U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, University of Alberta, and Charles Sturt University.
Fire Adapted Communities Conference
Fire Adapted Communities brings folks working on wildfire mitigation from all over the country together to learn from one another. “It’s a program that brings together people involved in forest fire, forest health and green restoration programs,” said Carol Ekarius, executive director of CUSP. “Between Hayman and Waldo and Black Forest, we’ve seen the impact on communities that fire has.”
The annual conference this week is taking place here in Colorado, hosted by the Coalition for the Upper South Platte. Field trips are showcasing some of the work in the Pikes Peak region before and after wildfire.
UN urges action to protect forests’ genetic diversity
The United Nations is calling for action to improve management of the world’s forest genetic resources. Our forest resources are “essential refuges for biodiversity” and provide us with a tremendous number of products and services, including food supplies. Sustainable management is essential for ensuring these products and services continue to be available.
Learn more in the BBC’s article ‘UN urges action to protect forests’ genetic diversity’
How to Read the Mind of a Wildfire
Fire behavior is a tricky thing to predict, but not understanding wildfire movement can have drastic consequences.
How mudslides work
Check out this video from the New York Times explaining what happens during a mudslide and how wildfires and mudslides are connected.
Aspen Hills Wildfire Preparedness
Home Address Signs
The Divide Fire Department has green reflective address number signs recommended by the Fire Inspector available. The fire department provides these signs as a community service, and asks for a $10 donation. The available signs are one-sided, so order two signs if you need to show your house number on both sides. Signs can be made vertical or horizontal. Having fire-resistant, visible address signs is important for responders to locate your home in the event of a wildfire or other emergency.
Aspen Hills neighbors are ordering address signs together, so please contact Tanna Hackney (tanna.hackney@gmail.com) by July 1 if you would like an address sign.
Street Signs
Aspen Hills neighbors banned together to prepare for wildfire season by working on street sign installation on Wildfire Preparedness Day! Street signs are important to help emergency responders navigate neighborhoods during wildfires or other disasters. Thanks to Paul for re-grading entrances, and to Greg, John, Glenn, Curtis, Dana, Rick, and Tanna and her son for installing new street sign bases and helping remove old signs.
Wildfire Restoration Resources
The resources below are excellent references for organizing and implementing wildfire restoration events:
NRCS Fact Sheets:
2012 Contour Wattles Fact Sheet
2012 Erosion Control Mats Fact Sheet
2012 Grade Stabilizers (Cross Vane) Fact Sheet
2012 Hand raking Fact Sheet
2012 Log erosion barrier Fact Sheet
2012 Rock Check Dams Fact Sheet
2012 Seeding Fact Sheet
2012 Straw Bale Check Dam Fact Sheet
Willow Planting
Technical Notes on Seeding
Colorado State Forest Service “Vegetative Recovery after Wildfire”
Colorado Seed Laboratory Test Request Worksheet
Example Volunteer Sign Up Form
Sign up for the Fire Ecology Institute for Educators
Sign up today for Project Learning Tree’s Fire Ecology Institute for Educators! This hands-on workshop runs from June 16-20 and is a great opportunity to learn more about wildfire and forest ecology, and how you can engage your students in learning about these important topics. The workshop will be held in Florissant, CO at The Nature Place, an ideal location for exploring the forest and the impacts of recent wildfires. The materials and strategies to be presented are appropriate for 3rd-12th grades in formal and non-formal settings, and can easily be integrated into interdisciplinary curriculum. The cost of $250 for the workshop includes lodging, meals, materials, instruction, and field trips for the week. Colorado residents may receive a $100 stipend upon completion of the course, and the workshop is eligible for continuing education credits.
The Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) is excited to help sponsor this event in our watershed this year. Please support this program and gain skills that you can bring back to your classroom!
Find more information at http://coloradoplt.org/workshop/2014-fire-ecology-institute-for-educators/
You can also contact Shawna Crocker, PLT Coordinator, at scrocker@colostate.edu or 303-278-8822 for more information.
Understanding forest history is important for mitigation efforts
Changes in land use and well intended, but misguided, forest suppression policies drastically altered our forests. Understanding what forests looked like before these changes is important for making forest management decisions as we work to proactively restore forest health and reduce the risks of catastrophic fire.