Although the smoke has cleared from the forest fires that ravaged the West last summer, including the foothills of Colorado聮s Jefferson and Larimer counties, debate over the effectiveness of current wildfire management practices continues.
Rep. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and a host of forest management experts will discuss questions surrounding those practices at noon this Thursday, Nov. 30, at a special "Hot Topics" luncheon program in Denver sponsored by the CU-Boulder Natural Resources Law Center.
Since the early 20th century, fire suppression has been the staple of wildfire management. Although protecting life, private property, forest and cultural resources are the primary concerns of forestry agencies, the long-term problem of dealing with hazardous fuels buildup looms. Many experts believe suppression has created conditions that are ripe for catastrophic wildfires.
How can the problem be addressed on a meaningful scale? How can forest management agencies prioritize protecting life and property while implementing new wildfire strategies in the face of limited resources and personnel?
Rep. Udall will begin the discussion with a presentation on the proposed Forest Restoration and Fire Reduction Act (H.R 5098), which he has cosponsored with Rep. Joel Hefley (R-Colo). A free panel discussion and public forum will follow the luncheon program from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Joining Udall in the discussion will be Steve Pedigo, U.S. Forest Service deputy director for fire in Region 2, Steve Hart, type I incident commander for the Colorado State Forest Service, Chris White, wildfire coordinator for Boulder County, Rocky Smith of Colorado Wild and Betsy Beaver, a long-time "interface" resident.
The luncheon will be held at the Denver law offices of Holland and Hart located at 555 17th St., on the 32nd Floor. Registration is $16 and includes a box lunch. Students are invited to "brown-bag" it for free or purchase a box lunch for $7.
The panel discussion is free, but participants are urged to register. From one to three general Continuing Legal Education credits are available to lawyers for an additional $5.
To register by phone with a credit card, call (303) 492-1272, or fax the information to (303) 492-1297. Checks, payable to the University of Colorado, should be sent to the CU Natural Resources Law Center, Campus Box 401, Boulder, CO 80309-0401.
For additional information on the program, please contact Kathryn Mutz at (303) 492-1293, or e-mail her at kathryn.mutz@colorado.edu.