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Mountain pine beetle on a tree with holes carved out by the beetle

Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force

The Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force was created by Governor Jared Polis through executive action in response to a significant and expanding mountain pine beetle outbreak affecting ponderosa pine forests along Colorado’s Front Range. The task force is charged with developing coordinated, science-based strategies to protect Colorado’s forests, communities, critical infrastructure, and water resources over the next decade.

Purpose and Scope

The Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force will coordinate across state, local, federal, private, and nonprofit partners to advance urgent and long-term strategies. The task force’s scope includes:

  • Improving cross-jurisdictional collaboration to address risks posed by beetle-killed trees and fuel accumulation
  • Developing public education tools for homeowners and communities
  • Evaluating strategies to protect watersheds and utility infrastructure
  • Protecting outdoor recreation and tourism infrastructure and economies
  • Advancing reforestation planning and forest health through species and age diversity
  • Strengthening wildfire detection, suppression, and recovery innovation
  • Assessing timber markets and opportunities to utilize beetle-kill wood
  • Exploring insurance strategies related to shifting wildfire risk
  • Identifying new funding strategies and implementing relevant federal wildfire recommendations
Task Force Members

Current Co-Chairs

  • Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources
  • Mike Morgan, Director, Division of Fire Prevention and Control
  • Matt McCombs, State Forester and Director, Colorado State Forest Service

Members

Appointed by the Governor

  • Senator Mark Baisley, Littleton: Colorado General Assembly
  • Representative Lesley Smith, Boulder: Colorado General Assembly

Appointed by the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources

  • Troy Heithecker, Lakewood: Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service
  • Douglas Vilsack, Lakewood: State Director, U.S. Bureau of Land Management
  • Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper, Golden: Jefferson County Commissioner; Colorado Fire Commission
  • Madelene McDonald, Lakewood: Colorado Forest Health Council; Denver Water/ Watershed Scientist
  • Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally, Loveland: Larimer County Commissioner
  • Commissioner Dan Williams, Cripple Creek: Teller County Commissioner
  • James Brad White, Granby: Fire Chief/District Administrator, Grand Fire Protection District
  • Sebastian Walton, Xcel Energy: Electric, water, and utility provider representation
  • William Lepry, Denver: Director, Colorado Mass Timber Coalition
  • Megan Maxwell, Broomfield: Executive Director, Colorado Timber Industry Association
  • Paige Lewis, Boulder: Deputy State Director/ Director of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy Colorado
  • Joseph Lavorini, Gunnison: Rocky Mountain Region Program Director, National Forest Foundation
  • Thomas Gougeon, Denver: President, Gates Family Foundation
  • Mike Alexander, Castle Rock: Director of Emergency Management, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Ex-Officio Appointments

Appointed by the Governor

  • Ellen Bottcher of Washington, D.C., to serve as an ex-officio member and representative of the federal delegation, appointed
  • Abbie Callahan to serve as an ex-officio member and representative of Colorado’s federal delegation
  • Patrick Donovan of Denver, Colorado, to serve as an ex-officio member and a representative of Colorado’s federal delegation for Senator Michael Bennet, appointed
  • Trina Griego of Lakewood, Colorado, to serve as an ex-officio member and representative of Colorado’s federal delegation, appointed
  • Maxwell Hanson of Cañon City, Colorado, to serve as an ex-officio member and representative of Colorado’s federal delegation, appointed

Appointed by the Department of Natural Resources

  • Jonathan Asher, Director, Office of Climate Preparedness and Disaster Recovery, to serve as an ex-officio member
  • John Barkowski, Forest and Montane Habitat Coordinator for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, to serve as an ex-officio member
  • Chairman Melvin J. Baker, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, to serve as an ex-officio member
  • John Barkowski, Forest and Montane Habitat Coordinator for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, to serve as an ex-officio member
  • Dan Bean, Director of the Palisade Insectary, Colorado Department of Agriculture, to service as an ex-officio member
  • Michael Conway, Commissioner of Insurance, to serve as an ex-officio member
  • John Kelly, Executive Director, Serve Colorado, to serve as an ex-officio member
  • Shayle Sabo, Resiliency Program Manager, Colorado Resiliency Office Department of Local Affairs, to serve as an ex-officio member
  • Chris Sturm, Watershed Program Director for the Colorado Water Conservation Board, to serve as an ex-officio member
  • Mark Thompson, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, to serve as an ex-officio member
  • Dan West, Forest Entomologist, Colorado State Forest Service, to serve as an ex-officio member
  • Tim Wolfe, Director, Colorado Tourism Office, to serve as an ex-officio member
  • Brett Wolk, Associate Director, Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, to serve as an ex-officio member

Note: Additional appointments will be forthcoming.

Background

Aerial forest health surveys conducted in 2025 by the U.S. Forest Service and Colorado State Forest Service reveal widespread and growing mountain pine beetle activity in ponderosa pine forests up and down the Front Range, with visible pockets of beetle-killed trees along the U.S. 285 and I-70 corridors.

Warmer temperatures and prolonged drought have weakened trees and created ideal conditions for beetle survival and spread: conditions expected to continue into the next decade.

State officials emphasize that early action is essential to ensuring healthy forests, watershed protection and community resilience. Beetle-killed trees increase hazards for firefighters, recreationists, utility providers, and transportation corridors. As tree mortality increases, beetle-killed trees can alter and may even intensify wildfire behavior under certain conditions, which is particularly concerning in densely populated Front Range foothill communities where wildfire risk is already high.

Colorado’s approach draws on lessons learned from past bark beetle outbreaks, as well as the state’s experience responding to catastrophic wildfires and investing in forest health, watershed protection, and community resilience.

Meetings

The Task Force is anticipated to begin meeting in February 2026. Additional information about meeting dates, agendas, and public participation opportunities will be posted in early 2026.

Public Engagement

Opportunities for public engagement, including public comment and stakeholder input, will be announced as the task force begins its work.

Resources

Public Comment

Public comment is requested for future meetings.
All members of the public are encouraged to provide public comment.
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