Forest Health Partnership tours Little Sand Fire area
By Lindsey Bright, Pagosa Sun Staff Writer
The Upper San Juan Mixed-Conifer Working Group has been going through some changes as it moves into Phase 2 — increasing education and outreach as well as starting up monitoring programs and seeking the grants to enable that.
One change involves a change in name to San Juan Headwaters Forest Health Partnership.
“This name is more inclusive of the whole concept,” said Marcie Bidwell of Mountain Studies Institute (MSI), adding, “The watershed and water supply are companions to forest priorities.”
Bidwell has stepped up to take on a larger role with the partnership and MSI has become the sponsor organization for the partnership. Also, the partnership wants to include the entire headwaters area for monitoring.
The first year of the group’s existence was spent educating stakeholders in the group, then prioritizing areas for treatment.
Last Thursday, members of this newly-named group viewed the aftereffects of the Little Sand Fire, and were informed about renewable forest energy efforts in the Williams Creek area as part of the Pagosa Area Biomass Long-term Stewardship contract. Altogether, 17 people attended, representing U.S. Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Tree Ring Research, Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, landowners, Indian affairs and various nonprofits.