News and Events
Featured Stories
Pagosa Springs Landowners Receive 2011 Tree Farmer of the Year Award
On August 6, Ron and Windsor Chacey received the award for exceptional multiple-objective management of the 40 forested acres on their property 10 miles southeast of Pagosa Springs.
After a tour of the property and two other tree farms, Ray Herrmann, Larimer County Tree Farmer and chair of the Colorado Tree Farm Committee, presented Colorado Tree Farm awards to the Chaceys and other award recipients at an awards ceremony on the Chaceys' property. State Sen. Ellen Roberts (R-Durango), Rep. J. Paul Brown (R-Ignacio) and Archuleta County commissioners were invited, and tree farmers from around the state and area landowners interested in forest management also attended. Read more
Saplings – Human and Arboreal – Reach Toward the Future
An accolade elm sapling is sitting in its root ball in a hole dug the previous evening on the north side of Needham Elementary School.
Peter Schertz, a Needham parent and admitted tree-lover, stands near the elm among a group of a couple dozen third-graders and asks: “What do trees provide for us?”
Southwest Colorado Community Earns National
Recognition for Wildfire Preparedness
Because of its efforts to reduce the vulnerability of homes and landscapes to wildfire, Deer Valley Estates recently earned Firewise Communities/USA® recognition from the National Firewise Communities Program.
Photo: Les Kole, Firewise ambassador (left) and Kent Grant, CSFS Durango District forester (center) present Firewise Communities / USA signs to John Beebe, Deer Valley HOA Board president.
Read more about Deer Valley Estates in the story, CWPP Helps Residents with Wildfire Preparedness.
For more information about Firewise of Southwest Colorado, visit the website.
Local News Articles, Newsletters & Reports
News Articles
The Biggest of its Kind: Durango's Black Locust Tree Named a State Champion
(Durango Herald 01/21/12)
Durango, already home to the state's largest known specimen of three tree species, has learned it harbors the biggest black locust in Colorado.
Drought, Wildfire Threaten the Ecological Balance
(Durango Herald 08/20/11)
When the Missionary Ridge Fire in 2002 burned more than 70,000 acres, 57 homes and came within a mile of the city's water intake on the Florida River, it was a wake-up call to local officials what a threat wildfire poses to area rivers.
Doing the Drop
(Durango Herald 08/04/11)
Fire management officers, forestry technicians and others learned the basics of coordinating aerial fire retardant drops with pilots like Randy Bolen, who demonstrates a drop in his single-engine air tanker, or SEAT south of Durango-La Plata County Airport.
Chaceys to Receive Tree Farmer of the Year Award
(Pagosa Sun 08/04/11)
The Colorado State Forest Service will recognize an Archuleta County couple on Aug. 6 with the 2011 Colorado Tree Farmer of the Year Award.
Ron and Windsor Chacey to Receive Tree Farmer of the Year Award
(Pagosa Springs Journal 07/28/11)
The Colorado State Forest Service will recognize an Archuleta County couple on Aug. 6 with the 2011 Colorado Tree Farmer of the Year Award.
Keep Fire at Bay
(Durango Herald 05/18/11)
As the region moves into the most dangerous time of the year for wildfire, authorities are urging residents to take all possible measures to protect themselves.
Saplings – Human and Arboreal – Reach Toward the Future
(Durango Herald 04/24/11)
An accolade elm sapling is sitting in its root ball in a hole dug the previous evening on the north side of Needham Elementary School.
Peter Schertz, a Needham parent and admitted tree-lover, stands near the elm among a group of a couple dozen third-graders and asks: “What do trees provide for us?”
Southwest Colorado Community Earns National Recognition for Wildfire Preparedness
(Pagosa Springs Journal 01/18/11)
Because of its efforts to reduce the vulnerability of homes and landscapes to wildfire, Deer Valley Estates has earned Firewise Communities/USA® recognition from the National Firewise Communities Program.
Fire Mitigation Nets Group Award
(Durango Herald 01/15/11)
Bayfield-area subdivision has won national accolades for its fire prevention efforts. On Friday, it was announced that Deer Valley Estates, a subdivision six miles east of Bayfield, won a Firewise Communities/USA award.
Local Forestry Effort Celebrated Today
(Pagosa Daily Post 07/29/10)
The Colorado State Forest Service recognized a Pagosa Springs land trust as the 2009 Colorado Outstanding Forest Steward of the Year for exceptional multiple-resource management of its 550-acre ranch.
Newsletters & Reports
July 2011 San Juan Tree Farmer Newsletter (152 KB PDF)
2009 Durango District Annual Report (3.1 MB PDF)
Local Events
Forestry Webinar Series - Free!
Online seminars that can be viewed via any computer with internet access
Noon - 1 p.m. Mountain Time
March 1 - Windbreak Design and Maintenance in Colorado
March 7 - Proper Tree Care Practices for Small Acreage Landowners
March 14 - Major Forest Health Concerns for Small Acreage Landowners
April 11 - Best Management Practices (BMPs) on Small Acreages
April 18- Wildlife Habitat Improvements for Forests in Colorado
More information
Statewide News & Events
Tree farmers awarded at the August 2011 Tree Farm meeting.