BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is asking for the public’s help in collecting information related to two mountain goats that were shot and found dead on July 4, approximately 2.8 miles up the Quandary Peak Trail. The mountain goats were young males, between 1 and 2 years old, and found approximately 40 yards away from each other. CPW officers are looking for information from anyone hiking Quandary Peak on July 2 or 3 who might have seen something.
Members of the public who may have information should contact the Operation Game Thief (OGT) hotline at 877-265-6648. The reporting party (RP) can receive a $1,000 reward if the information leads to a citation being issued or an arrest made. The request for the reward should be made when the RP calls the OGT hotline. The RP may remain anonymous if they so choose.
Penalties for this crime are covered under C.R.S. 33-6-10, Wildlife–illegal possession.
For each rocky mountain goat a fine of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than one hundred thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than one year in the county jail, or both such fine and such imprisonment, and an assessment of twenty points. Upon conviction, the commission may suspend any or all license privileges of the person for a period of one year to life.
In addition to the criminal penalties listed above there shall be assessed a further penalty in the amount of ten thousand dollars for each mountain goat illegally taken.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council have issued an OZONE ACTION DAY ALERT at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 6, 2018 for the Front Range Urban Corridor from El Paso County north to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver-Boulder area, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Greeley.
Hot temperatures, sunny skies, and light winds will lead to increased ground-level ozone concentrations on Friday and Saturday.
This Ozone Action Day Alert will remain in effect until at least 4 p.m. Saturday, July 7, 2018.
The highest Ozone related AQI at 1 o’clock PM Mountain Standard Time on July 6, 2018, is 51 which indicates Moderate ozone air quality. It was recorded by the RFN ambient ozone monitor. Unusually sensitive individuals may experience respiratory symptoms. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
The highest Particulate Matter (PM2.5) related AQI at 1 o’clock PM Mountain Standard Time on July 6, 2018, is 61 which indicates Moderate Particulate Matter (PM2.5) air quality. It was recorded by the CCOL ambient monitor. Respiratory symptoms possible in unusually sensitive individuals, possible aggravation of heart or lung disease in people with cardiopulmonary disease and older adults. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
Front Range Air Quality Forecast & Colorado Smoke Outlook
FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST: Friday, July 6, 2018, 2:15 PM MDT
Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Friday and Saturday. Concentrations of ozone in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category are possible throughout the Colorado Front Range region. Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion from noon until 10 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Friday and Saturday. Moderate concentrations of fine particulates are possible throughout the Colorado Front Range region. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on Friday and Saturday.
Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday and Saturday.
Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Friday and Saturday.
Visibility on Saturday is expected to be Moderate to Poor.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council have issued an OZONE ACTION DAY ALERT at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 5, 2018 for the Front Range Urban Corridor from El Paso County north to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver-Boulder area, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Greeley.
Warm temperatures, upslope winds, and ample sunshine will allow ozone concentrations to reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups conditions on Friday, especially the southern and western suburbs of the Denver Metro Area, northward along the foothills to the western suburbs of Ft. Collins.
This Ozone Action Day Alert will remain in effect until at least 4 p.m. Friday, July 6, 2018.
The highest Ozone related AQI at 1 o’clock PM Mountain Standard Time on July 5, 2018, is 51 which indicates Moderate ozone air quality. It was recorded by the CHAT ambient ozone monitor. Unusually sensitive individuals may experience respiratory symptoms. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
The highest Particulate Matter (PM2.5) related AQI at 1 o’clock PM Mountain Standard Time on July 5, 2018, is 69 which indicates Moderate Particulate Matter (PM2.5) air quality. It was recorded by the BOU ambient monitor. Respiratory symptoms possible in unusually sensitive individuals, possible aggravation of heart or lung disease in people with cardiopulmonary disease and older adults. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
FRONT RANGE AIR QUALITY FORECAST: Thursday, July 5, 2018, 2:00 PM MDT
Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Thursday, and Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range on Friday. Moderate concentrations of ozone are anticipated throughout the Colorado Front Range region on Thursday and Friday. Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups concentrations possible for the southern and western suburbs of the Denver Metro Area and northward along the foothills, including the western suburbs of Ft. Collins on Friday. Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion from noon until 10 PM on Friday in these areas.
Fine Particulate Matter concentrations are expected to be in the Good to Moderate range on Thursday and Friday. Moderate concentrations of fine particulates are possible throughout the Colorado Front Range region. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on Thursday and Friday.
Carbon Monoxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Thursday and Friday.
Nitrogen Dioxide concentrations are expected to be in the Good category on Thursday and Friday.
Visibility on Friday is expected to be Moderate to Poor.
Colorado Division of Criminal Justice Publishes Study of Homeless in Jails
The Colorado Division of Criminal Justice published a study exploring the demographics, characteristics, crimes and needs of a specific subset of Colorado’s current jail population: the homeless.
“A Study of Homelessness in Seven Colorado Jails” surveyed 507 inmates in jails in Arapahoe County, the City and County of Denver, El Paso County, Larimer County, Mesa County, and Pueblo County. The sites were chosen because they represent a good cross-section of jurisdictions in Colorado that experience the impacts of homeless populations.
The Division of Criminal Justice commissioned Eris Enterprises to conduct the study to provide data that may help answer questions being raised by law enforcement, legislators and community members in relation to a reported increase in the homeless population in major Colorado jails and in Colorado in general. The study examined the prevalence of risk factors associated with homelessness, the types and number of crimes committed, home state origin, why non-native inmates moved to Colorado, and what services inmates need to transition out of jail. In particular, the study sought to provide insight on one frequently posed question: is Colorado seeing an increase in homeless people moving to Colorado for legal marijuana and then committing crimes?
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
The study found that the majority of homeless who ended up in Colorado jails moved here prior to legalization of marijuana, and most moved here to escape a problem or be with family. However, more than one third of the homeless who moved to Colorado after legalization in 2012 reported legal marijuana as a reason that drew them to Colorado.
The study also found that homeless inmates reported higher rates of mental illness and were charged with significantly fewer violent crimes but significantly more drug and trespassing crimes than non-homeless inmates.
“This study helps us better understand what is happening with homeless in Colorado’s jails. What we’ve learned is that homeless individuals have been coming to Colorado since before legalization of marijuana, driven by a combination of push and pull factors. They are fleeing problems and coming here for family, jobs, friends, and, in some cases, for legal marijuana,” said Stan Hilkey, Executive Director of the Department of Public Safety.
He added: “The findings also underscore we already know: that Colorado’s jails already have far too many people in them with mental health and substance abuse issues. That’s why efforts to address mental health and substance abuse issues remain a top focus in our state and nationwide.”
HOW THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED
Researchers administered questionnaires to 507 inmates at the seven jails between June and October of 2017. The study was designed to over-sample the homeless population in jails in order to have a large enough group of homeless subjects to make estimates about current trends in Colorado. It does not necessarily represent the overall population of the seven jails, but it does represent a random sample of both homeless and non-homeless inmates in those jails.
Of the sample, 60.8% reported experiencing homelessness in the 30 days prior to entering the jail. This indicates that the over-sampling technique worked and the homeless sample is large enough to produce estimates of different indicators.
DATA HIGHLIGHTS
62% of the sample moved to Colorado from other states; of those who came from other states, 59% moved to Colorado before legalization in 2012.
The most common states of origin for homeless inmates were California, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
Among the 77 homeless inmates who moved to Colorado after marijuana was legalized in 2012, top reasons cited for moving to Colorado were:
Getting away from a problem (44.2%)
Family (38.9%)
Marijuana (legal and medical) (35.1%)
Employment (24.1%)
The most common reasons non-native homeless inmates said they stay in Colorado were:
Family (31.1%)
Outdoor activities (28.3%)
Friends (26.6%)
Employment (24.1%)
Marijuana is the sixth most common reason, with 18.5% reporting that as a reason they stay in Colorado.
Homeless inmates had significantly fewer violent crime charges than non-homeless inmates.
Homeless inmates had significantly more drug crime and trespassing charges than non-homeless inmates.
There was no difference in the total number of charges, number of charges for property crimes, or number of charges for other types of crime.
Homeless inmates were more likely to report having been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder (55.9%) and having a mental illness (64.2%) than non-homeless inmates (35.3% and 46.4%, respectively).
The complete study, with additional findings and graphs can be found here.
An international team led by DTU Space at the Technical University of Denmark with Colorado State University has found that the bedrock below the remote West Antarctic Ice Sheet is rising much more rapidly than previously thought, in response to ongoing ice melt.
The study, “Observed rapid bedrock uplift in the Amundsen Sea Embayment promotes ice-sheet stability,” reveals new insights on the geology of the region and its interaction with the ice sheet and is published in the journal Science.
Researchers said the findings have important implications in understanding and predicting the stability of the ice sheet and Earth’s rising sea levels.
“We studied a surprising and important mechanism, glacial isostatic adjustment, that may slow the demise of the massive West Antarctic Ice Sheet by lifting up the bedrock and sediments beneath the ice sheet,” explained CSU Professor Rick Aster, a co-author of the study and head of the Geosciences department at the university.
Ice sheet’s bowl-like position makes it susceptible to collapse
Scientists have been concerned that this ice sheet is particularly precarious in the face of a warming climate and ocean currents, because it is grounded hundreds to thousands of feet below sea level — unlike the ice sheets of East Antarctica or Greenland — and its base slopes inland. This bowl-like topography makes it susceptible to runaway destabilization and even complete collapse over centuries or even thousands of years.
The entirety of West Antarctica contains enough ice that, if it were to melt, would contribute more than 10 feet of average global sea level rise. In addition, the ice sheet is so massive that it attracts an ocean bulge, due to gravity. If this mass of water is released, it would lead to an additional increase of three feet or more to average sea level in parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is currently contributing approximately 25 percent of global melting land-based ice each year, and recent satellite-based studies have shown that this amount has increased in recent decades. This figure is equivalent to about 37 cubic miles or a cube of over three miles on each side.
Co-authors of the study based at The Ohio State University led the installation of sensitive GPS stations on rock outcrops around the remote region to measure the rise in response to thinning ice and to directly measure the uplift due to changes in the ice sheet. These measurements showed that the bedrock uplift rates were as high as 1.6 inches per year, one of the fastest rates ever recorded in glacial areas.
Professor Rick Aster is a co-author of a new study that analyzed the remote West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which is susceptible to collapse.
“This very rapid uplift may slow the runaway wasting and eventual collapse of the ice sheet,” said Aster. The uplift tends to stabilize the critical grounding line where the ice sheet loses contact with underlying bedrock or sediment and goes afloat, he explained. This grounding line then counteracts the process of the ice sheet collapsing.
‘A game changer’
Researchers also found in this study that the uplift is accelerating, and predicted that it will continue to do so into the next century.
“Our research indicates that recent and ongoing ice loss in the region has been underestimated by approximately 10 percent in past studies, because this bedrock uplift was inadequately accounted for in satellite measurements,” said Aster.
Lead author Valentina Barletta, a postdoctoral researcher at DTU SPACE, Technical University of Denmark, said that this uplift is occurring quite rapidly, when compared with other regions of the earth where glaciers are melting.
“Normally we would see this type of uplift happening slowly, over thousands of years after an ice age,” said Barletta. “What we found tells us that earth’s underlying viscous mantle is relatively fluid and moves quickly when the weight of the ice is taken off,” she added.
Terry Wilson, professor emeritus of Earth Sciences at The Ohio State University, said the findings suggest that the geological conditions beneath the ice are very different from what scientists had previously believed.
“The rate of uplift we found is unusual and very surprising,” she said. “It’s a game changer.”
Seismic scans uncover clues about the earth’s mantle
Aster, Barletta and the study co-authors have deployed a large network of sensitive seismographs across Antarctica to produce seismic tomographic images — analogous to a gigantic CAT scan — of the deep earth below Antarctica.
The work assisted in the interpretation and modeling of the GPS uplift data by delineating a vast region of the earth’s mantle, 40 to 400 miles below West Antarctica, that is relatively hot and fluid.
Previous and related studies conducted by the research team have also revealed that some hotter features below Antarctica extend still deeper, over 600 miles, into the earth.
“These warmer mantle features drive the previously enigmatic volcanic activity in West Antarctica, including Mount Erebus on Ross Island,” said Aster. “This geothermal heat at the base of the ice sheet helps to sustain subglacial lakes in some regions and lubricates the ice sheet as it slips towards the ocean,”he added.
Aster said while the research does provide room for a positive outcome, if future global warming is extreme, the entire West Antarctic Ice Sheet will still melt.
“To keep global sea levels from rising more than a few feet during this century and beyond, we must still limit greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere through international cooperation and innovation,” he said.
Co-authors of this study also include researchers from DTU Compute at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Compute), University of Washington, University of Colorado-Boulder, TU Delft in the Netherlands, University of Texas, University of Memphis, Penn State University and Washington University in St. Louis.
The Department of Geosciences is part of the Warner College of Natural Resources
Colorado Parks and Wildlife seeking public’s help in catching bear poacher
IDLEDALE, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is asking for the public’s help in identifying the person, or people, responsible for shooting a large female black bear that was found dead on June 20, in Idledale which is a part of Jefferson County.
On the evening of June 20, a local resident spotted a dead bear in a wooded area near a pond at the intersection of South Grapevine Road and Sawmill Gulch Road in Idledale, CO. Wildlife officers responded and found a large female black bear with green ear tags that had been shot and killed. The bear had been trapped and relocated by CPW as a yearling bear in 2015. Since then, she had reared cubs and seemed to be doing fine in her new location. No reports of conflicts with this bear have been reported to CPW.
“Any information related to this incident provided by the public is critical to this investigation,” said Officer Joe Nicholson, district wildlife officer. “Poaching is not only a serious crime against an animal, it is a violation of trust and a crime against the people of Colorado.”
Evidence collected by wildlife officers at the scene indicates the bear was likely shot near a home along Sawmill Gulch Road or South Grapevine Road, before it fled to the location where it later died. Local wildlife officers describe Idledale as a small, tight knit community. It is likely somebody living in the area has information about the death of the bear.
Wildlife officers patrolling Jefferson County investigate illegally killed bears every year; most commonly the result of a frustrated homeowner who decides to unlawfully take matters into their own hands. CPW reminds the public that officers can provide education to neighborhoods and assistance to residents living in bear country. The agency is asking for anyone with information about the death of this bear to come forward with information.
Members of the public who may have information related to the incident should contact CPW’s Northeast Region Office at 303-291-7227, Wildlife Officer Joe Nicholson at 303-906-4364 or the Operation Game Thief (OGT) hotline.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report your information through the Operation Game Thief hotline: 1 (877) COLO-OGT (265-6648).
Practice healthy swimming to prevent spread of Crypto, other waterborne illnesses
DENVER— As summer heats up and more people head to the pool, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reminds people to protect themselves from recreational waterborne illnesses such as cryptosporidiosis (Crypto) and giardiasis (Giardia).
Crypto and Giardia are parasites that cause intestinal illness. Crypto easily spreads through water and is hard to kill, even in properly chlorinated pools. The parasites live in the guts of infected people and animals and are passed through feces (poop).
Swallowing contaminated swimming water is one of the most common ways Crypto spreads. We want people to know what they can do to minimize their risk of getting sick and spreading disease. — Nicole Comstock, who manages the enteric disease program for the department
Crypto and Giardia are spread not only by swallowing water (from swimming) but also from eating food contaminated by feces from infected people or animals, even in tiny amounts that can’t be seen. The infections also can spread from person to person and from touching surfaces or objects contaminated with feces from an infected person and then touching your mouth without washing your hands first.
The illnesses can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. Symptoms typically begin two days to four weeks (one week on average) after swallowing the parasite, and can come and go for a month or longer. People are contagious from the time symptoms start until at least two weeks after the symptoms go away. The only way to diagnose these illnesses is to be tested by a health care provider. The diseases can be serious for people with weakened immune systems.
The state and Tri-County health departments continue to investigate whether illness is linked to a June 11-13 incident at Water World, during which untreated pond water might have contaminated pools and drinking fountains or might have been used to make food, ice and drinks at the park. Two people who visited Water World during that time have been diagnosed with Crypto and one person has been diagnosed with Giardia. Public health agencies are investigating whether these illnesses are associated with their visits to Water World. Water World resolved the water contamination issue, and there does not appear to be ongoing contamination. If you visited Water World Colorado on June 11, 12 or 13 and experienced symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea or stomach issues after your visit, call the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at 303-692-2700.
Prevent Crypto, Giardia and other recreational water illnesses
Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea.
If you know or suspect you might have Crypto or Giardia, do not swim while you are sick with diarrhea and stay out of the pool for two weeks after the diarrhea is gone.
Shower before you get in the water.
Change diapers away from poolside.
Take kids on bathroom breaks every hour.
Don’t swallow water you swim in.
Wash your hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom and changing diapers and before preparing and eating food.
Stay home from work, school, day care and summer camp if you are sick.
Avoid sexual activity if you are sick with diarrhea.
If you are sick and your symptoms are not going away, check with your health care provider.
Record Breaking Heat — prevent illness and other serious conditions
With temperatures in the triple digits this week, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is reminding residents and visitors to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses. Heat-related illnesses include heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs. These conditions happen because the body’s temperature rises faster than the body can cool itself.
During extreme heat, stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. Some counties are partnering with cities and towns to make sure additional locations, such as recreation and senior centers, are available to anyone who needs to come in for a few hours to cool down. Call your local public health agency to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.
Older adults, the very young, people with mental illness and chronic diseases, and people living without air conditioning are at highest risk for heat-related illness and should be watched closely. “Friends, families and neighbors should check in on the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions routinely,” said Dane Matthew, director of the department’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “Heat can also affect young and healthy people if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.”
To avoid illness from heat, public health officials recommend these precautions:
Stay in an air-conditioned area. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to a shopping mall, library or other place that does. Even a few hours in an air conditioned environment can keep the body cool.
Drink water often; don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Avoid sugary drinks and alcohol, as they cause a loss of body fluid.
Avoid preparing or eating hot meals; they add to body heat.
Visit adults who are at greater risk at least twice daily, and watch them closely for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Be safe on the job. If your job involves physical work outdoors:
Drink water every 15 minutes, even if you’re not thirsty.
Wear a hat and light-colored clothing.
Rest in the shade.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has heat-safety resources for employers, including mobile apps that can alert workers when extreme heat conditions exist.
Move people experiencing signs of heat exhaustion to a cool place as soon as possible. Applying cool, wet cloths to their head and body, or placing them in a cool bath also can help cool them down. People should get medical help immediately if they vomit, their symptoms last longer than one hour, or their symptoms worsen.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife now accepts digital payment to purchase passes and other products
DENVER, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife has good news for park visitors who don’t travel with much pocket money. CPW is rolling out new self-service kiosks at Colorado state parks that will augment or replace the existing system requiring customers to place their cash in envelopes when staff aren’t available to sell park passes. The new machines take credit cards and are more weather-resistant than the envelope system, more convenient for customers who aren’t carrying cash, and require less employee time to collect payment.
Not a lot of people have exactly seven dollars [for a daily park pass] in their pockets. As far as customer service goes, being able to pay by credit card is definitely a desirable service option. This helps our state parks become more modernized. Most of the kiosks run on solar power, provide multiple sales channels to our customers, and help our staff with money collection and counting. It also helps our law enforcement officers quickly determine who has bought a pass and who hasn’t. — CPW Statewide Business Operations Coordinator Kirk Teklits
The kiosks accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards. The kiosks can also sell annual state park passes. The machine prints a receipt to redeem an annual pass at any CPW office.
15 stations are currently installed at 9 parks and more to come this summer:
The new kiosks are currently located at these state parks:
Boyd Lake
Castlewood Canyon
Chatfield
Lory
North Sterling
Highline
James M. Robb – Island Acres
Lake Pueblo
The kiosks will be installed at these locations later this summer:
Cherry Creek
Eleven Mile
Golden Gate
Staunton
Steamboat Lake
Cheyenne Mountain
Lathrop
WASHINGTON — The ONE Campaign today applauded Senator Cory Gardner for cosponsoring a bipartisan bill that would bring tens of billions of dollars in new private-sector investment into the fight against extreme global poverty by helping innovative American entrepreneurs build infrastructure projects, create first-time access to electricity, start businesses, and expand their reach in developing markets.
Earlier this year, a group of Coloradans traveled to Washington to meet with Senator Gardner to urge him to cosponsor the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development (BUILD) Act (S.2463) and continue the United States’ leadership in the fight against extreme global poverty.
Benjamin Sykora, a ONE Campus Leader at the University of Colorado Boulder:
Earlier this year, I traveled to Washington to meet with Senator Gardner to tell him that Coloradans strongly support the BUILD Act and care deeply about continuing the United States’ leadership in the fight against extreme global poverty. The BUILD Act would leverage new private-sector capital to build infrastructure, create first-time access to electricity, start businesses, create jobs, and ultimately work alongside American foreign aid to reduce extreme poverty in developing countries. It will give the U.S. government new tools for partnering with entrepreneurs and leveraging non-taxpayer dollars, while making it easier for American businesses to operate in emerging markets. Senator Gardner should be applauded for his leadership in cosponsoring this bipartisan bill that would accelerate the modernization of America’s engagement with the private sector in developing countries while reforming federal government programs to make them more efficient. The bill is a smart idea, and the type of proposal all legislators should be eager to support. I hope the rest of the Colorado delegation, including Senator Michael Bennet, will join Senator Gardner in supporting this bill and help shepherd it through the Congress. ONE and its 41,000 members in Colorado care deeply about this legislation, and we will stand behind our leaders if they help advance it.
About the BUILD Act
The bill, sponsored by Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and Chris Coons (D-DE), and Congressmen Ted Yoho (R-FL-03) and Adam Smith (D-WA-09), would merge several federal programs into a new “development finance corporation” (DFC) whose purpose would be to mobilize private-sector investments to support sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, and development through partnerships. The new DFC would make loans, invest, and forge partnerships with innovative entrepreneurs who want to do business in developing countries.
SUPERIOR, Colo. – State officials have confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) – an invasive, highly destructive tree pest – in the Town of Superior in southeast Boulder County. This new detection is still just within a quarantine area established to try and prevent the humanassisted spread of EAB. However, it represents the fifth community with confirmation of EAB in Colorado outside the City of Boulder, where the pest was first detected in 2013.
An estimated 15 percent or more of all urban and community trees in Colorado are ash species susceptible to being killed by EAB – and a majority of these trees are on private land. EAB attacks and kills both stressed and healthy ash trees and is so aggressive that trees typically die within two to four years after becoming infested.
Boulder County foresters recently identified a dead adult EAB on a trap the county had previously set – along with a dozen others in targeted areas – to detect for early infestation of the pest. This particular trap was located on public property along the Mayhoffer Singletree Trail, near the intersection of West Thomas and Third Avenue in Superior. The foresters presented the adult beetle specimen to Colorado State University experts, who have now confirmed the insect as being EAB.
Since then, EAB symptoms have been confirmed in multiple nearby ash trees on private property, as experts from the interagency Colorado EAB Response Team – a group working to manage the spread and impacts of the pest – helps to assess the observable extent of EAB in the area.
Over the past four years the Colorado State Forest Service, partnering with Boulder County and the City of Boulder, has set hundreds of traps targeting EAB to try and detect its presence along roadways within Boulder County. Many Front Range municipalities also have set traps to try and potentially detect EAB as soon as possible after its arrival. The traps are designed as detection tools that lure in EAB adults using attractant odors and color schemes, and are coated in a sticky substance to capture individuals that come into contact with them.
It is unknown whether EAB arrived in Superior by natural spread or via accidental human transport, such as in firewood or other raw ash material. Populations of the insect are capable of spreading a half-mile each year on their own, and Superior is not far from other EAB detections in Lafayette and Boulder.
Many Front Range communities are managing for EAB before its arrival, including the Town of Superior. Its Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department has begun removing and replacing smaller, less healthy public ash trees, and has been treating more valuable, targeted trees to protect them from EAB. The Town will not be treating private ash trees and recommends that residents take action now to assess and evaluate management of those trees.
EAB was first confirmed in Colorado in September 2013, in the City of Boulder. Since then, the pest has been confirmed in Gunbarrel, Longmont, Lafayette and Lyons – all within Boulder County and an established EAB Quarantine area. At this time, EAB has not been detected in Colorado outside the county or quarantine. However, the pest is extremely difficult to detect when its numbers are low in an area.
EAB tips for Boulder County and Front Range Residents:
Determine now if you have any ash trees. Identifying features of ash trees include compound leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets; leaflets, buds and branches growing directly opposite from one another; and diamond-shaped bark ridges on mature trees. More information about a related app for mobile devices is available at www.csfs.colostate.edu/emerald-ash-borer.
If you have an ash tree, start planning. Decide if the overall health of the tree merits current or future treatment or if it would be best to remove and replace it with a different species. If you aren’t sure, contact a certified arborist. If pesticide treatment is the preferred option, the applicator must be licensed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture as a Commercial Pesticide Applicator.
Recognize signs of EAB infestation. Property owners with ash trees should be on the lookout for thinning of leaves in the upper tree canopy, 1/8-inch D-shaped holes on the bark and vertical bark splitting with winding S-shaped tunnels underneath. Report suspect trees by calling the Colorado Department of Agriculture at 1-888-248-5535 or filling out their EAB Report Form at https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/agplants/eab-identification-and-reporting.
Help prevent further spread of EAB. Do not transport ash or any hardwood firewood, or any other untreated ash wood products, to other locations. Boulder County and some surrounding areas are under a federal EAB quarantine, allowing for significant fines for those who move untreated wood from the area.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Crypto and Giardia are spread not only by swallowing water (from swimming) but also from eating food contaminated by feces from infected people or animals, even in tiny amounts that can’t be seen. The infections also can spread from person to person and from touching surfaces or objects contaminated with feces from an infected person and then touching your mouth without washing your hands first.
Record Breaking Heat — prevent illness and other serious conditions
