capital

Dead Wood

Colorados Sustainable Forests Trade Association is working to create an economy around beetle-kill pine. by Brit Horvat

Every

weekend, hordes of Coloradans head to the mountains to ski, bike, hike, climb or just to take in our states natural beauty. But our beloved Rockies are in danger of losing one of their key elements: lodgepole pines. The reddish-brown trees, which make up 8 percent of our 22 million acres of forests, are in their death throes, suffering from an epidemic of mountain pine beetle (MPB) infestation. According to a 2009 study by the U.S. Forest Service, more than 2.3 million acres of lodgepoles nationwide have been impacted by MPB infestation. In Colorado, the toll is 2.9 million acres; last year alone, 374,000 acres of trees were destroyed. And its not getting any better. In the next two to three years, areas of lodgepole pine along the Front Range and south of Leadville are expected to see an increase in mountain pine beetle activity, says Ryan Lockwood of the Colorado State Forest Service. An infestation of this magnitude is unprecedented in our recorded history. Staging the Beetle Battle Unlike other environmental threats oil spills, water shortages beetle kill isnt a new phenomenon, but rather a natural disturbance thats been plaguing pine forests for thousands of years. And while lodgepole pines are a main target, theyre not alone. Beetles tunnel through the trees nutrient-rich bark to feed and lay their eggs, also attacking ponderosa, Scotch, limber, bristlecone, and

pinyon pine trees. (Other beetle favorites include Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce, and Colorado blue spruce trees.) In past years, the insects have been killed off by cold winters, but the milder winters and drier summers of late have allowed them to thrive and grow. Over their one-year life cycle, the beetles aim for old, stressed trees. Ironically, the attacks can yield positive effects: beetle-ridden lodgepoles typically die soon after infestation, which allows for more sunlight, nutrients, and water to reach smaller trees and eventually grow new forests, a process that takes 80 to 100 years. In the interim, though, the dead trees also provide fuel for forest fires. Marion Murphy, a founding member of the Sustainable Forests Trade Association, a group of businesses trying to create an economy around beetle-kill wood, says the potential for fires could affect our water supply. She says two million people in the Denver metro area depend on water from areas impacted by MPB. Most of Denvers water comes from a watershed around Grand Lake, which is one of the epicenters of the pine beetle infestation, Murphy adds. Losing this has enormous repercussions: no water, no farms, no food. Getting Creative While beetles are ravaging our forests, Coloradans are cooking up creative ways to reclaim our states pines. Gilpin County

Gilpin County Commissioner Jeanne Nicholson (right) lives in a cabin built from beetle-kill wood (above).

Commissioner Jeanne Nicholson has lived in a log cabin built from beetle-kill wood since 1981. It was always my dream to live in a log cabin in the mountains, says Nicholson, whose husband and sons built their home with wood rescued after a beetle infestation in the 1970s. I love the warmth, comfort, and welcoming feel. Nicholson, who is running for Colorado State Senate in November, has plans to salvage the states forests. These include legislation to promote healthy forests, educate landowners on managing their trees, and encourage economy-boosting and practical uses of beetle-kill wood. As awareness of the beetle problem increases, she says, its producing a market for these products and catching the eye of consumers.

30 denvermagazine.com

AUGUST 2010

Photography by marion murphy

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This is something Colorado business owners already know. For nearly two years, Grand Junctionbased designer-carpenter Drew Witmer, who owns J+Clay Environments, has been experimenting with MPB wood. Its so visually appealing. It refines the traditional rustic look of pine, says Witmer, who incorporates the wood in sustainable, custom furniture and light fixtures. The environmental implications are a bonus: Using MPB creates industry locally, he adds, and furniture made with it has a much lower carbon footprint because it isnt traveling great distances. In Breckenridge, the Full Circle Design Group crafts flooring, cabinetry, and custom furniture crafted from beetle-kill wood. The customer response [to products made from MPB wood] has been fantastic, says Full Circle owner Charise Buckley, who donates a percentage of sales to reforesting. Plus, she adds, people are glad to see us doing something with wood thats dead on the side of the road.
Brit Horvat, a Colorado native and lifelong art and nature lover, is a Denver-based writer who gives coverage to locals making an impact.

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When You Go

Third Annual Beetlefest

September 11, 10 am6 pm  4K Beetle Stomp fun run, lumberjack show, and live music Main Street, Frisco  Benefits Friends of the Dillon Ranger District  townoffrisco.com/events/beetlefest/
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August 2010

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