F65B246C0A120BE8872582C6006FEC09 Hearing Summary

The committee recessed.

The committee reconvened. Mike Lester, Colorado State Forester, introduced himself and the Colorado State Forest Service. Committee members received reports from the CSFS on the health of Colorado's forests [Attachment D] and forest management to protect Colorado's water resources [Attachment E].

A copy of CSFS's presentation slides is available as Attachment F.

 

Attachment D

 

Mr. Lester discussed the impact of bark beetles on Colorado's forests. He responded to committee member questions about the number of trees destroyed, and about the unnaturally dense state of the state's forests.

Mr. Lester explained CSFS's mitigation, treatment, and watershed protection efforts. He discussed the benefits of fire adapted communities.

Mr. Lester discussed wildfire funding in Colorado and the challenges the CSFS faces. He noted that the state owns only a small fraction of the forest lands in the state. He added that the CSFS needs additional funding for its Forest Restoration and Wildfire Mitigation grants and its Healthy Forests and Vibrant Communities program. Mr. Lester suggested that the CSFS intends to focus its resources on the areas where they can have the most significant impacts.

Mr. Lester responded to committee member questions about the market for biomass.

Mr. Lester responded to committee member questions about the role of local governments in conducting wildfire mitigation.