If you have driven through the mountains of Colorado in the last few years, you may have noticed some dead or brown pine trees. What you see is a result of the outbreak of pine beetles throughout the Rocky Mountain Region. The portion of the tree that the pine beetle feeds on destroys the flow of water and nutrients through the tree and eventually kills it. Now Keystone is in the process of finalizing plans for a health treatment program for the pines at Keystone Resort. Some of the plans include clearing dead trees and spraying others to protect them from the pine beetles, and planting seedlings to help speed up the recovery.
The plan will be finalized in June, and the treatments will consider recreation, wildlife and scenic value. To see the proposed plans from the White River National Forest, click here. Preventing falling trees, protecting the general public and preventing damage while regenerating the tree population is the foremost goal of treating the lodgepole pines. Removing beetle killed trees will protect the ecosystem and ensure that Keystone Resort stays just as beautiful as ever before.
Summit County residents aren't about to let the pine beetle win. This September 10th, the 4th Annual Beetlefest will take place in the nearby town of Frisco from 10 am to 6 pm. This event builds education and awareness with a 4K BeetleStomp, Lumberjack show, bug petting zoo and more! This year, Beetle Blockers will showcase beetle art displays through the summer. It will be a fun, educational public art display dedicated to helping in efforts to mitigate the pine beetle epidemic. We'll be sure to keep you posted on all things Beetlefest as Keystone takes on the battle of the beetle this summer.
