Teller County News • February 2026
Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources have announced the creation of the Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force, a new multi-agency group focused on responding to a fast-growing beetle outbreak in ponderosa pine forests along Colorado’s Front Range.
Recent aerial forest health surveys have documented increasing mountain pine beetle activity in ponderosa pine stands along the U.S. 285 and I-70 corridors, with warmer temperatures and ongoing drought creating favorable conditions for the outbreak. The task force is charged with developing coordinated, science-based strategies over the next decade to:
- Reduce wildfire risk in forested foothill communities
- Protect homes, critical infrastructure, and utilities
- Safeguard watersheds and drinking water sources
- Support Colorado’s outdoor recreation and timber economies
Teller County is represented on the task force by Commissioner Dan Williams, who was appointed alongside state legislators, federal land managers, county commissioners from other Front Range counties, utility providers, timber industry representatives, conservation groups, emergency management officials, Tribal representatives, and other partners.
The task force will begin meeting at the end of February 2026. Additional information about meeting schedules, timelines, and opportunities for public engagement will be shared as it becomes available.
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