Fall Chipping in BLE – September 20th – 24th!
A Colorado State Forest Service chipping crew will be in Beaver Lakes some time between September 20th – 24th. This is a great opportunity to protect your buildings and the forest. As we saw with the neighborhood evacuation for a fire last week and the constant smoke over the past few summers, forest fires are a reality. Cleaning up your lot may help save your home. The cost for the crew and chipper is $150 per hour with an estimated cost of $75 per participant. (Renting a chipper in Buena Vista is about $400.)
Here is all you need to do:
- Email Tim Ratterman (Tim.Ratterman.BLE@gmail.com) to get on the list of lots for chipping. He will provide the forest service with a list of addresses and will bill you based upon the amount of time the crew reports they spent at your lot.
- Build piles next to the road with all the butt ends facing one way. This helps speed up the chipping.
- Do not include root balls. They can contain rocks that will damage the chipper. Trees with root balls will be left next to the road.
- In addition to dead trees include green trees and branches that have been cut away from the perimeter of your buildings.
- Do not include any trees with a trunk diameter over 6”. That should be used for firewood.
- Sage can be included.
- Homeowners do not need to be home to participate. The crew appreciates the help if you are able.
Here is more information from the Colorado State Forest Service:
Protecting Your Home from Wildfire: Creating Wildfire-Defensible Zones