Located in the foothills campus at Colorado State University, the Fort Collins District serves the people of Larimer and Weld counties forest management needs. Provide for natural resource protection in mountains, plains, and urban settings from damaging effects of fire, insects, disease, wind, water, and people. Achieve improvement of Colorado's renewable natural resource base for values the public regards as important, while being sensitive to future needs. Achieve public understanding of forestry's role and value in a healthy environment.
Periodic epidemics cause heavy mortality in older, dense forests.
MPB is currently causing significant mortality of ponderosa pine in Larimer County with an estimated 3000 trees killed in 1997 and probably double that in 1998. Areas of primary concern include Red feather Lakes, Crystal Lakes, Glacier View, Seven Mile, Manhattan State Section, and Upper Poudre Canyon. MPB has now spread south past the Boy Scout Road into Glacier View. Areas of secondary concern include Estes Park, Cedar Park, Rist Canyon and Redstone Canyon. Over 100 infested trees were identified and removed this year in the Estes valley.