Town Hall Style Meeting: Saving Summit County from the Pine Beetle

A few weeks ago the students and I held our own Town Hall style meeting with the purpose of trying to generate solutions that would bring peace to Summit County's struggle to cooperatively manage the pine beetle epidemic.  While our crew was engaging in field work at Keystone Science School they were also provided an opportunity, from KSS staff, to preview how a town hall style meeting may function.  When we returned to REMS, groups of two students, working together as stakeholders with an unique investment in Summit County, began preparing for their own town hall styled meeting.  The research done in the field, classwork focused on both the scientific and the civic aspects and a guest speaker helped students begin to understand the depth and complexity of the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic.  Using insight gained through multiple perspectives the students came prepared to their town hall styled meeting, ready to defend and compromise.  It was truly a wonderful event to mediate.  You each would be quite proud of your child's commitment.  Below are a few photos from the event, video clips and the students agreed upon solutions. 

Crews agreed upon solutions Summit County Pine Beetle Epidemic. 

• Thin dying trees from town and forest which would aid in fire danger, safety and beauty.
• Private homeowners and land owners agreed to pay modest tax increase to cover removal of trees from their land.  
• Biomass company gets dead/cut trees for turning into pellets and usable lumber.  Company also agrees to assist town in tree mulching, for free, if job is small scale.  If job is larger scale company will either rent equipment to town or contract with town to fulfill large scale job. 
• Control Burn:  Near township, neighborhoods, high traffic outdoor recreation areas, ski resorts: Only w/ manageable access and low out-of-control-fire risk.  Any fires that present higher risk stakeholders must approve Control Fire.  All burns must be discussed with stakeholders that are effected, or maybe effected before burn.  
• Diverse native trees must be planted in place of thinning and clearing.  Specifically in areas dependent on forest for income (ex. in and near townships, outdoor recreation areas). 
• In certain cases were trees have been removed, mulch or  some bio material must be spread to replace nutrients decaying trees would have provided. 
• Spraying for Pine Beetle:  Spray should be used minimally and only if needed.  
• Spraying on Public Land needs the approval of all stakeholders potentially effected; area considered for spraying must be surveyed and noted to establish a baseline for future scientific monitoring.  Land agreed to be sprayed must be monitored for plant, animal, water and human threats.  Township and Forest service will pay for this service.  Spraying on Private lands (ex. ski resorts) does not need the approval of potential stakeholders threatened.  However, Private land owners must have land surveyed by multiple sources (one determined by private landowner, one determined by forest service) before spraying. These services are paid for by private land owner.  If wildlife, water quality or human welfare is effected in anyway negatively, private landowner is responsible.  This includes areas outside private landowners boundaries, as well as river health down stream from area being sprayed.