MacGregor Ranch 1
After over 100 years of fire suppression in the Estes Valley, the forest in this project was over populated with many trees that would not historically of been present. In ponderosa habitats a small surface fire would of historically came through the ecosystem every 5-50 years keeping the populations in check. Because of the lack of fire, the trees compete for a limited amount of resources (sun, water, and nutrients) and are not as healthy due to the competition. Our goal for this project was to restore the forest back to its historic density and improve the habitat for the enjoyment of both humans and animals.
Benefits
- Reduced risk of catastrophic fire
- Improved forage for animals such as elk and mule dear
- Increase in understory biodiversity (forbs, grasses, and shrubs)
- Increase in survival rates for ponderosa pine in future fires.
Cheley Camps of Colorado 1
This ~200ac project was completed on the Cheley Camps of Colorado's main summer camp property. This camp host kids of all ages for a wide array of outdoor summer activities. The forest composed of lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, and quacking aspen. Historically the site would of contained a larger proportion of ponderosa and aspen than current conditions allow. Due to modern-day fire suppression, the lodgepole pine and douglas fir was enabled to encroach on the historical forest types and essentially take over. This site had a very high risk of a catastrophic wildfire occurrence and a mechanical forest treatment has benefited the entire Big Thompson watershed and town of Estes Park. Through removing heavy fuel loads and restoring the forest back to historic reference conditions, the conservation district was able restore species composition and tree vigor, enhance wildlife habitat, and mitigate heavy fuels loads to reduce the risk of wildfire spread.
Benefits
- Return to historical species compositions
- Reduced risk of catastrophic fire
- Increase aspen populations
- Improved forage for animals such as elk and mule dear
- Increase in understory biodiversity (forbs, grasses, and shrubs)
- Increase in survival rates for ponderosa pine in future fires
Meadowdale Ranch
Meadowdale Ranch consisted of three landowners located right off of highway 36 and next to Hermit Park open space. A good chunk of the properties on this project focused on meadow restoration. Due to years of fire suppression young trees remain in meadows that would of normally been killed by frequent fire running through. To combat this we pushed back the ecotone of meadow and forest back to its historical position using evidence on the ground as well as imagery from INSERT YEAR. Like much of the rest of the Estes Valley species composition was a concern and Douglas-fir and Spruce were in higher in density than historically present. With out fire these species will out compete ponderosa pine and aspen which is a huge resource concern.
Hell's Canyon
Hell's Canyon is a forest service road off of highway 36 that definitely earns its name. A project was completed at the top of this road that was INSERT ACRES. The challenges of this road made this project unique and BTCD had to get creative with ways to get material out of the property. A combination of making a log deck and masticating smaller trees and stumps was decided on and the property is rebounding very nicely. The main ecological concerns for this property were
Pole Hill
Cheley Camps of Colorado 2
Husted Ranch
Forest Restoration’s benefit to the local economy:
Hiring a local logging company to complete these forest restoration projects has contributed to the local economy. Healthy Forest Initiative projects can be used as an educational demonstration site and will encourage similar future projects throughout Larimer County and Colorado – further benefiting the larger landscape and community.
This photograph shows a log landing at MacGregor Ranch where the logger brings trees to process into saw-logs, wood chips, and other products. Wood products from our forests also represent an economic opportunity as they are sold back into the community. This log landing will be restored and monitored for weeds in the coming years to ensure that the logging equipment does not have a negative effect on the land and soil.
Hiring a local logging company to complete these forest restoration projects has contributed to the local economy. Healthy Forest Initiative projects can be used as an educational demonstration site and will encourage similar future projects throughout Larimer County and Colorado – further benefiting the larger landscape and community.
This photograph shows a log landing at MacGregor Ranch where the logger brings trees to process into saw-logs, wood chips, and other products. Wood products from our forests also represent an economic opportunity as they are sold back into the community. This log landing will be restored and monitored for weeds in the coming years to ensure that the logging equipment does not have a negative effect on the land and soil.