Mountain Pine Beetles
Mountain Pine Beetles in Soda Creek
This page provides the current status of mountain pine beetle (MPB) activity within our community and outlines actions landowners can take to mitigate its impact.
First, we sincerely thank all residents who have taken proactive steps to mitigate their properties and maintain a healthy landscape. Your efforts have already made a meaningful difference in improving overall forest health within our community. We recognize and greatly appreciate the time and financial commitment this work requires.
Last summer, in response to the significant increase in MPB activity, the Soda Creek POA Board of Directors established a Pine Beetle Committee (PBC). The committee was tasked with identifying properties showing signs of MPB activity and establishing a baseline dataset of forest conditions within the Association.
In coordination with the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), the jurisdictional agency responsible for forest management on private and state lands in Colorado, the PBC obtained aerial mapping and GIS overlay datasets. These materials identify forest types across the POA, current infested areas, and the anticipated spread of MPB into similar forest types within the community.
This page provides the current status of mountain pine beetle (MPB) activity within our community and outlines actions landowners can take to mitigate its impact.
First, we sincerely thank all residents who have taken proactive steps to mitigate their properties and maintain a healthy landscape. Your efforts have already made a meaningful difference in improving overall forest health within our community. We recognize and greatly appreciate the time and financial commitment this work requires.
Last summer, in response to the significant increase in MPB activity, the Soda Creek POA Board of Directors established a Pine Beetle Committee (PBC). The committee was tasked with identifying properties showing signs of MPB activity and establishing a baseline dataset of forest conditions within the Association.
In coordination with the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), the jurisdictional agency responsible for forest management on private and state lands in Colorado, the PBC obtained aerial mapping and GIS overlay datasets. These materials identify forest types across the POA, current infested areas, and the anticipated spread of MPB into similar forest types within the community.
Included on this page you will find mapping datasets showing:
- Infested areas mapped in 2023 and updated 2025 - (Google Link) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wdr6LLFVwR8OnYudVRwhxAMZx_N75iNz/view?usp=sharing
- Owners the Board has contacted (blue Cross hatch) who have confirmed action plans.
- Anticipated spread (approximately 0.5 miles from identified infested trees) to ponderosa pine stands.
We encourage you to review the maps as a visual progression of MPB activity within the Association. Early identification and prompt mitigation remain the most effective tools for limiting spread within our community.
MPB activity typically increases during warmer months, making late winter and spring (October - Early July) a critical window for preparation and treatment. Continued coordination and timely action will be essential this season.
Resource Documents:
The following PDF documents have been developed to provide additional details regarding the preparation and mitigation of the Mountain Pine Beetles on your property.
Landowner Action Guide (click here for the PDF)
The following PDF documents have been developed to provide additional details regarding the preparation and mitigation of the Mountain Pine Beetles on your property.
Landowner Action Guide (click here for the PDF)
If your property appears within an infested or anticipated spread area, please review the Landowner Action Guide and contact the Board within the next 30 days to confirm your mitigation plan or discuss next steps. The Landowner Action Guide also includes:
- Our current mitigation strategy
- A seasonal action timing calendar
- Reference links for MPB information and forest restoration
- A contractor/vendor list
- Soda Creek points of contact for this effort
Contractor Scope of Work for Pine Beetle Mitigation & Forest Restoration projects (click here fo the PDF)
Soda Creek POA is implementing a coordinated mitigation and restoration strategy in response to projected activity from the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB). Contractors will support landowners and/or the HOA with tree protection, infested tree removal, hazardous fuel mitigation, and site restoration services. All work needs to align with guidance from the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) and applicable wildfire
mitigation standards supported by Jefferson County.
Thank you again for your attention and continued commitment to addressing this challenging issue. Working together, we can meaningfully protect forest health and preserve the character of our community for years to come
Pine Beetle Committee Updates:
Sept. 16, 2026: An aerial survey was completed by the Colorado State Forestry Service (CSFS) in early September. Property specific maps will be available on the KCHOA Property Owner's Portal in the next couple of months. A high percentage of residents actively responded to the prior aerial survey evidence of their properties, and took aggressive mitigation action. A small number of owners have taken no action as of yet. The SC board has sent regular communications to those owners requesting action. The board will continue to press nonparticipating owners for an action plan.
Sept. 1, 2026: Please be advised that the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) aerial mapping team will be working throughout the Soda Creek neighborhood beginning today and continuing through the end of the week. The CSFS team will be conducting its annual Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) survey using drones, pilots, and ground spotters to assess forest conditions throughout the community. During this time, you may see drones operating overhead as well as CSFS personnel positioned throughout the neighborhood. We wanted to make everyone aware so residents understand who they are and the purpose of their work. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
April 23, 2026: The Soda Creek POA Boad of Directors wanted to relay an enthusiastic thank you and job well done to the numerous property owners who have been rigorously engaged in stewarding our forested landscape. Individual efforts taken to address the recent challenges of multiple severe windstorm events and the ongoing Mountain Pine Beetle infestation, have contributed to the larger scale progress of maintaining the beautiful landscape we live in. It is anticipated that the MPB activity will increase over the next 2-3 hatching seasons, impacting almost all properties within Soda Creek. Please continue to send any MPB forestry management plans and actions (cutting, chipping, spraying injecting, etc.) to our MPB Committee for documentation and tracking. Thank you! Send to: Sam Dearstyne, sdearsty@gmail.com, (720) 309-2440.
Feb. 9, 2026: Drone survey work in Soda Creek: The Soda Creek board contracted the services of a geographical survey company to collect drone-based data of the nearly 2,000 acres within the association. The work was completed in late December 2025. The purpose of that work was to establish a baseline view of the significance of the beetle infestation and damage within the association. Once the edits are complete (next thirty days), the BoD plans to schedule an association wide Zoom call, with a subject matter expert, to discuss critical next steps and priorities to address the issue. Thank you to all of you that have been aggressive in your mitigation efforts the last couple of years.
To avoid attracting Pine Beetles to your property,
Dead & Infected Trees should only be mitigated:
OCTOBER - EARLY JULY
Dead & Infected Trees should only be mitigated:
OCTOBER - EARLY JULY
Resource Documents:
- Landowner Action Guide (Click here for the PDF)
- Contractor Scope of Work for Mountain Pine Beetle Mitigation & Forest Restoration projects (Click here for the PDF)
Events:
- Evergreen Fire/Rescue: Rooted In Resilience Forestry Series - Mountain Pine Beetle by Dr. Dan West
- Date: 2/23/26
- Time: 6:00PM - 7:00PM
- Location: Zoom Presentation (recorded)
Homeowner Grants:
- 2026 JeffCo Pine Beetle Landowner Assistance Program
Jefferson County is providing a cost share opportunity for landowners to help control mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) on privately owned lands within Jefferson County. The funding is being made available for treatment of green pine trees infested with live mountain pine beetle (Trees that died in prior seasons are not eligible.)
Summary Details and link to program:
https://www.jeffco.us/5153/MPB-Landowner-Assistance