May 2022 Newsletter

Newsletters

Jan 31

Written By Clay Pot Creative

Larimer Conservation District | May 2022 Newsletter | Subscribe to the Newsletter

Spring 2022: Beneath the Bark

Events Calendar

LCD Board Meeting
June 9th, 12-2pm
Open to the public
2150A Centre Ave. Fort Collins, CO

Hike With a Forester
June 18th, 10:30am-3:30pm Open to the public
Homer Rouse Trail, Estes Park

Local Working Group Discussion
June 29th, 12pm-2pm
Open to the public; Lunch provided Location TBD

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Cheatgrass Mitigation and Habitat Restoration Project

by Gretchen Reuning, Director of Natural Resources Programs

This year, LCD is embarking on a two-year project to help restore areas impacted by the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire. LCD was awarded $45,000 from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) to reduce cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) infestations within recent burn scars along the Northern Front Range of Colorado.

***We will use Bayer's product Rejuvra, an herbicide targeted at invasive annual grasses, to treat cheatgrass infestations in recent Front Range wildfire footprints.***

The Northern Front Range is home to several elk herds that provide important ecological and recreational benefits to our communities. Wildfire has become increasingly common in the home ranges of these herds and due to uncharacteristically high fire severity, has impacted habitat quality for elk, deer and other wildlife. After wildfires, cheatgrass increases in abundance due to its competitive advantage over native flora: it competes with native vegetation for soil moisture and nutrients, reducing the forage available for wildlife. Even more concerning is that cheatgrass abundance contributes to a higher wildfire risk because it matures and dries out quicker than native grasses, contributing to unnaturally high fine fuel- loading earlier in the fire season. Combined with hotter and drier summers, cheatgrass has helped recent fires spread hotter and faster than ever before.

LCD sees cheatgrass abundance as a serious concern in our district, and has partnered with RMEF, NRCS, CO Parks and Wildlife, Larimer County, Boulder County, and Bayer to implement roughly 1,000 acres of cheatgrass mitigation work within recent burn scars along the Front Range. This project seeks to treat important elk transition and winter ranges to eliminate cheatgrass and restore browse and other forage availability.

Project Update: Cheley Colorado Camps

**With Phases I & II completed**, LCD is in the planning phases of completing Phase III of the forest restoration work at Cheley Colorado Camps. The next phase of work is slated at their Fish Creek and Fox Creek properties.

*^ Before and after treatment comparison from Phase II. Tree densities were reduced by roughly 75% to address the goals and objectives of the project.*

Board Member Spotlight:
ZACH THODE

Zach is a man of many talents, out-of-the-box ideas, and specialties. Zach has been a major player in growing LCD's existing programs, pushing forward the merge between the Fort Collins and Big Thompson Conservation Districts, and even creating a new Resource Banking program for LCD.

As a farmer-rancher and agricultural engineer, Zach is a key member of the local agricultural community. In addition to LCD, Zach currently serves on the Larimer County Ag Advisory Board, CO Ag Water Alliance, Poudre Runs Through It, Colorado Cattleman's Water Committee, and is a 4H Club leader. Zach's involvement in these boards helps him keep a finger on the pulse of agricultural and conservation issues within our district.

When he's not busy managing the Roberts Ranch or in a board meeting, you can find Zach at his home in Livermore with his four kids, fixing equipment, or working to learn and understand something new.

Larimer Conservation District | 2150 Centre Ave, Building A Suite 116, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526

Education: sarah@larimercd.org Forestry: matt@larimercd.org