Christine Scanlan

COLORADO
HOUSE MAJORITY COMMUNICATIONS
STATE CAPITOL

Rep. Scanlan and Sen. Gibbs Head to DC to Secure Funds for Bark Beetle Mitigation

(DENVER) — Representative Christine Scanlan (D-Summit County) and Senator Dan Gibbs (D-Summit County) will head to Washington, D.C. this week to urge the Colorado Congressional Delegation, Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Forest Service, Interior Secretary Salazar, and others to address the bark beetle epidemic and reduce the threat of a potentially devastating forest fire.

“We must bring to Washington's attention the extreme risk Colorado faces for a catastrophic wildfire in the northern and central Rockies,” said Rep. Scanlan. “This is an issue of urgent national importance. The vast majority of beetle kill acreage is on federal lands, where the critical infrastructure and essential watersheds that most Coloradans rely on are located.”

Although the bark beetle epidemic plaguing the Colorado high country is already well publicized, new evidence suggests its impacts could be more devastating than previously thought. Research indicates that as the risk for wildfire increases - coupled with the potential for tree blow-down on the two million acres of beetle-kill forests - the entire western power grid could be threatened.

“We are really excited about our trip to Washington D.C.,” said Sen. Gibbs (D-Summit County), a Type II Wildland firefighter. “We are meeting with federal officials to fight for additional support for Colorado. We need to protect our land and water, and we need to put people to work. We need to provide the resources for Colorado to succeed. This is a local, state and federal issue, and we need support on all levels to prepare for future catastrophic fires. Colorado has more than 22 million acres of forested land, with 1 million Coloradans living within the wildland urban interface. Also, with more than 2 million acres of dead lodge pole pine, we really need to ensure that Colorado has additional support for land and water in the face of potential wildfires.”

Both lawmakers have important bills up for consideration this session aimed at mitigating the epidemic. For example, Senate Bill 1, The Community Wildfire Protection Plan, helps local governments prepare for wildfires so they can respond effectively and efficiently in emergency situations. SB 1 will be reviewed by the House Appropriations Committee. And House Bill 1199 is The Health Forests, Vibrant Communities Act, an omnibus bill which makes a number of significant changes and allocations regarding the management, protection, and use of Colorado's forests, particularly in response to the bark beetle de-forestation and resulting increased risk of forest fires. HB 1199 will be reviewed by the House Appropriations Committee.

Sen. Dan Gibbs and Rep. Scanlan will be joined in Washington D.C. by Pitkin County Commissioner Patti Clapper, Summit County Commissioner Bob French, Eagle County Commissioner Peter Runyon, Jackson County Commissioner John Rich, Boulder County Commissioner Ben Pearlman, Walden Mayor Dirk Ramsey, Kremmling Mayor Tom Clark, Colorado State Forester Jeff Jahnke, USFS R-2 Bark Beetle Incident Commander Clint Kyhl, Ron Turley, Western Area Power Administration, Tony Cheng, Director, Forest Restoration Institute at Colorado State University, and Gary Severson, the Executive Director of the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments.

Both Rep. Scanlan and Sen. Dan Gibbs are paying for their own trips.

PHOTOS AVAILABLE! Please email Holly Shrewsbury at holly.shrewsbury@state.co.us or visit www.coloradohouse.org.

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