Eagles Nest - Environment
Tax Deduction for Fire Mitigation
Save your receipts. The State of Colorado (HB08-1110) allows landowners to deduct the costs of fire mitigation measures on private land. "Wildlife mitigation measures" are defined in the act as follows: "The creation of a defensible space around structures; the establishment of fuel breaks; the thinning of woody vegetation for the primary purpose of reducing risk to structures from wildland fire; or the secondary treatment of woody fuels by lopping and scattering, piling, chipping, removing from the site, or prescribed burning; so long as such activities meet or exceed any Colorado State Forest Service standards or any other applicable state rules." Some restrictions and limitations apply. Consult with your tax preparer to determine if you qualify.
Noxious Weeds
For the past several years, the Homeowners Association has undertaken a comprehensive effort to control and eradicate noxious (i.e., non-native) weeds. We identified 8 species of noxious weeds in our community. Of these 8, we found 5 weeds that we classified as "serious infestations": False Chamomile (crazy daisy), Oxeye Daisy, Canada Thistle, Musk Thistle and Yellow Toadflax (butter and eggs). (The dandelion, while considered undesirable and pesky by many is a native weed and not on the list). To deal with this problem, the Association began a program to educate property owners of the need to eradicate these noxious weeds. Each year we identify specific noxious weed infestations and require that property owners remove these infestations. Today, through the work of Jim Beltzer and his crew of dedicated volunteers, we are gaining the upper hand. Eagles Nest is in far better shape than many other communities in the area. Still, because these weeds will make a comeback if we let our guard down, we need to monitor and eradicate new outcroppings each summer. If you have any questions about the program or would like to volunteer to help identify problem weeds, please contact Jim Beltzer at jabeltzer@comcast.net. The Association has backpack sprayers and herbicide for use by members. These can be obtained from Stuart Richardson, who will also provide instruction on their proper use. You can contact Stuart by phone at 262-9024 or 389-6758 or by e-mail at homes307@comcast.net. For information on weed identification, contact Lisa Taylor, Summit County Weed Coordinator, 970-668-4218, or LisaT@co.summit.co.us.
Also, link to great info at:
Our Forests and the Pine Beetle
The Eagles Nest, Summit County and the entire Rocky Mountain West have some serious challenges ahead of us. We are nestled within a 120 year old predominantly Lodgepole pine forest. Over the years, fire has been suppressed in this forest and there has been little thinning that would propagate a more healthy forest, diversified both in size and species. Weakened by periodic draught and human interference in the natural process of destruction and renewal, the region-wide infestation of the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) has taken a toll on this forest. The Association has been and continues to be proactive in dealing with the threat posed by the MPB.
Mountain Pine Beetle Spray Policy
It is safe to say that all of us take a special pride in the natural beauty of Eagles Nest. The forest surrounding our homes is a treasure, a source of aesthetic enjoyment, recreation, and indeed a source of real value. That forest, as we all know, has been under attack by the pernicious mountain pine beetle. A number of years ago the Board of Directors of the Eagles Nest Property Homeowners Association, out of a strong sense of stewardship for the forest, mounted a campaign to battle the beetle. This involved a mandatory tree spraying program for both private properties in Eagles Nest and for properties owned by the Association. The spraying program was endorsed by forest officials at both the state and federal level. Even so, we were told that there was no program that would guarantee 100% effectiveness in the fight against the pine beetle; we would lose some trees no matter what we did. The Association took the lead and, while trees have been lost, the Eagles Nest area is still far ahead of surrounding areas in protecting the forest landscape.
Although the tree spraying program has saved an overwhelming majority of Lodgepole pines, the Association has not been completely satisfied with the results of our spraying effort to date; far too many trees have died. Consequently, the Board established special committees every year to reevaluate the program. Those committees met several times, consulting with forest officials, investigating the effectiveness and safety of spray chemicals, and interviewing four spraying contractors. In addition, the committees have also heard from a number of property owners who suggested that we simply stop spraying altogether.
The committees carefully weighed all the options in an effort to answer these questions: What is the best approach available to protect the forest from the pine beetle today? What can the Association do to preserve the forest so that it has a healthy future? First, the committees concluded that doing nothing would be disastrous. If our trees had no protection, they would all be immediately vulnerable to a pine beetle attack with the next infestation. Not spraying would lead to the loss of our entire Lodgepole forest in a matter of just a year or two. We can spend a few dollars to spray today, even though we may still lose some trees, or we can do nothing and spend much more money in the long run to cut and remove dead trees. Needless to say, the loss of our forest would mean a catastrophic decline in property values and would greatly elevate our vulnerability to wildfire. Second, the committees came to the conclusion that our tree spraying program (even though it does not guarantee a 100% success rate) along with other changes provides us with the only option that may save a great deal of the forest.
Accordingly, we have adopted the following
Mountain Pine Beetle Spray Policy for 2011:
As in recent years, we need to continue our aggressive program to halt the advance of the pine bark beetle in Eagles Nest. This program has had significant success and the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) infestation appears to be on the decline. These efforts are directed not only at the aesthetics of the community but also at the extreme danger of fires.
To continue the successful management of this infestation, all property owners need to participate in this year’s program, therefore the HOA Board has decided to again make the program mandatory. ENPHA will contract with Preventive Tree Spraying, Inc. (PTS) at a cost of $10 per tree (same as last year). All lodge pole pines 4 inches in diameter at chest height on all properties will be sprayed by PTS unless an owner elects to personally contract for the work. An owner, who contracts with an alternative sprayer must ensure that the contractor is licensed, insured and uses the appropriate chemicals. ENPHA must be notified by March 31, 2011 of the licensed contractor to be used and the date when the work will be completed. PTS Spraying is scheduled to start on May 1st and be complete by July 1st. Although not mandatory, serious consideration should be given to have spruce trees sprayed, as the same chemicals are appropriate.
Again this year property owners will be requested to mark and count those trees on their property that are to be sprayed. Volunteers who are trained in the process of marking will be available to consult with owners to assist them as necessary. Owners may elect to have the marking/counting done by PTS or the HOA with an administrative fee of $2.00 per tree added to the spraying invoice. Please indicate whether or not you will mark and count you own trees on the form at the bottom of page 2 of the 2011 Environment Letter by April 15, 2011. Also referenced in the March 17, 2011 Pine Beetle Spraying Program letter.
Any owner planning to start construction this year should mark the trees to be removed within the building area with red paint in the form of an “X” on the street side of the tree.
Do You Know the Location of Your Property Lines?
If you don't know where your property lines or lot pins are, the tree sprayer won't either. Clearly mark your property lines. You could be paying to spray some of your neighbor's trees.
Wildfire Protection Information
Colorado State University has a number of publications on-line that will help homeowners protect their properties from wildfires. Log onto their site at www.ext.colostate.edu and search the following publications:
Creating Wildfire-Defensible Space (6.302);
Fire-Resistent Landscaping (6.303);
Fire Wise Plant Materials (6.305);
Grass Seed Mixes to Reduce Wildfire Hazard (6.306).
ON THIS PAGE
Pine Beetle - Situation, Spraying, Tree Cutting
Fire Mitigation - updates, contacts & tax deductions
Noxious Weeds
Trash Collection Info
On-call Trash Collection
On-call trash collection is available to Eagles Nest residents - particularly useful for part-timers. Just make a call to one of the following trash collection companies and they will send out a truck to collect your trash:
Waste Management (468-2475),
The Trash Company/Snow Peaks (668-0659),
Talking Trash (389-0101).
Prices range from $15 to $23. So, if you can't arrange for a neighbor to take out the trash, you now have an alternative.
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RECENT UPDATES
12/3/11 - defensible space, contacts
Healthy Forest Volunteer Opportunity
Thank you to our volunteer homeowners!
Board member Brian Moriarity is compiling a master list of volunteers. If you are interested in helping us on a Healthy Forest workday, please contact Brian at briguy922@comcast.net
2011 Pine Beetle Infestation Survey
The Board passed a motion (in Sept. 2010) to hire an experienced consultant to survey the neighborhood (open space and individual lots) for new beetle infestation. Board recommends continuing the spray policy for one or two more years and hopes to obtain enforcement involvement from the Town community service officer, Dave Siderfan.
2011 Policy
Unsafe Tree Removal Program.
Last year ENPHA conducted an Unsafe Tree Removal Program. This program identified dead and severely leaning trees which could fall on a road, sidewalk, trail or building. The program will be continued this year.
Fire Mitigation Program
If your property has dead or infected trees, please have them removed as soon as practical. A list of tree service contractors is available on Summit County’s website at www.co.summit.co.us/wildfiremitigation/index.html.
