January 13 Community Update

When: Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. (Updates will begin at 3:35)
Where: Virtually and by phone (Spanish interpretation available.) Capacity is limited to 500 participants. The update will also be live streamed on YouTube.

Agenda:

Short update on Boulder County COVID-19 disease status from Jeff Zayach, Boulder County Public Health executive director
Update on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution at the federal, state, and local levels from Chris Campbell, Boulder County Public Health Emergency Manager
Question and answer period for community members to ask questions of the panelists

Find the video link and phone number for sessions at   www.boco.org/COVID19CommunityUpdates.

Boulder County Launches Community Vaccine Notification Program

Boulder County residents can now sign up to be notified when they are able to receive the coronavirus vaccine through a new Boulder County Public Health notification system.

The new program comes on the heels of Gov. Jared Polis announcing “unexpected changes” to the state’s prioritization of who will receive vaccines first, according to a news release from the department.

The change significantly increases the number of people eligible to receive the vaccine during the first phase of distribution, including providing the vaccine to nearly 30,000 county residents who are 70 years old or older before teachers, grocery store employees and other front-line workers.

The system notifies people by email when they are able to receive the vaccine and is separate from the notification system for health care workers and first responders.

The community notification system is available at bit.ly/3ni2ybo.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Winter conditions mark start of slash burning season

As winter conditions settle in across Colorado’s northern Front Range, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests will work to burn slash piles resulting from fuels reduction and hazardous tree removal projects across the area. This season’s pile burning could begin as soon as Jan. 5, 2021, and will continue through the spring, depending on weather and fuels conditions.

Fuels reduction programs involve mechanical or hand thinning projects, removing trees to reduce forest density and improve forest health. While larger logs are removed for use, unmarketable limbs, saplings, and brush are piled up for burning. Hand piles result from crews using chainsaws to thin the forest and then piling the sawn material; machine piles result from using logging equipment and primarily consist of tree limbs left behind after marketable material is removed.

Piles are only ignited when fuels managers are confident that the project can be undertaken safely and successfully. Snow cover, fuel moisture, precipitation, wind, temperature, and available firefighter staffing are all considered before beginning a pile burn. Piles which are ready for burning are prioritized based on elevation, aspect, access, and proximity to homes. Smoke, flames, and glowing embers are often visible, and are a normal part of pile burning operations. Snow helps contain the piles and firefighters monitor the area during and after the burn. Public and firefighter safety is always the number-one priority in burning operations.

Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health; for more information see http://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/wood-smoke-and-health/.

To get the latest updates on when and where burning will occur, follow us on Twitter and Facebook @usfsarp. For a complete list of locations where burning will occur this season, visit our InciWeb page at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4648.

FREE COVID Testing at the Nederland Community Center Continues Through March 31, 2021

• Now through 3/31/2021 Date and Time TBD
  
• Testing will be in the Gymnasium.
• Come to the main east -side entrance and follow signs.
• If you are symptomatic, PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR.  Call the front desk, 303.258.9721, and we will send someone out to you!

Thank you to Boulder County Public Health, Boulder Community Health, and Dennis Whalen of Peak to Peak Housing and Human Services Alliance for their efforts to make this happen!

Forest Service officials announce plans to host
Indian Peaks Wilderness permits on Recreation.gov

New system will provide ease and convenience for visitors

BOULDER, Colo., (Dec. 15, 2020) – To improve customer service for visitors, the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests are announcing plans to move Indian Peaks Wilderness backcountry permits online at Recreation.gov. Beginning in mid-March 2021, visitors will be able to view permit availability, book a reservation, pay online, print permits, and manage their reservations from one account.

Indian Peaks Wilderness is a popular destination for recreation opportunities in the Front Range. The area’s proximity to the Denver Metro area makes it one of the most visited Wilderness areas in the country. To preserve the area’s wilderness character, a permit system has been in place for overnight camping since 1985. Until now, however, visitors could only apply for a permit via mail or in person at the Boulder or Granby district offices. This system created challenges and inconveniences for visitors.

This new online system will allow visitors to view backcountry zone availability ahead of time, making it easier for them to plan their itineraries. Furthermore, they will have access to this system 24/7 and can apply for permits on the weekends and evenings, even when the district offices are closed. Lastly, visitors can easily make modifications to an existing permit if circumstances change.

Permits are required for all overnight camping from June 1 to Sept. 15 and are always required for groups of 8-12 people. The new system is expected to come online in mid-March and permits will no longer be issued by mail, phone or in person. Look for more information and details as they become available at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/arp/indianpeaks.