Forest Health
The forests in Colorado face threats from insects, disease, fire and changes in climate that are visible in warmer temperatures and reduced snowpack. One of the best defenses against these threats is a healthy diversified forest. Ruby Ranch property owners are committed to protecting the health of forest on their lots.
Ruby Ranch lots are generally covered by lodgepole pines, firs of various kinds, spruces, and aspens. The challenges facing each species are different and require different approaches.
Over the years, the Ruby Ranch Fire Committee has consulted, for example, the arborists at CERES (a Breckenridge forest services firm), the Summit County resident Colorado Forest Ranger, various local loggers, and experts at Colorado State University. Here is a summary of their advice, by species:
Lodgepoles are vulnerable to the Pine Beetle, which killed virtually all mature lodge pole pines in Summit County between the years of 2006 and 2016. Pesticides are effective to slow/stop the beetle at a cost of about $10/tree/year, however, treatment is not needed at this time since since the beetle has moved on.
Dwarf mistletoe threatens to kill any lodge poles the beetle missed and there is no herbicide known to stop dwarf mistletoe, which kills the host tree slowly over time.
Firs are currently afflicted by a persistent drought which weakens the tree making it more susceptible to pests like the Western Balsam Bark Beetle. Pheromones applied annually have shown promise as an experimental treatment, but more research is needed.
Spruces are attacked by spruce beetles for which there is an effective pesticide which must be sprayed to coat the trunk of the tree to its top, again at a cost of about $10/tree.
Aspens are subject to an aspen blight (fungus) for which there is no known treatment.
Please refer to the following documents and links to help identify insects and diseases that could threaten the health of our forest:
Common Forest Insects and Diseases Colorado State Forest Service