Craig Daily Press / Drought could affect fall foliage in Colorado

Archive for Monday, August 27, 2012

August 27, 2012

ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — Foresters are keeping an eye on how dry conditions in the mountains this summer will affect fall foliage.

Chris Forman, Aspen's city forester, says the yellow leaves popping up in the area could indicate stressed trees and could mean an early and shorter color season.

But Jim Kravitz with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies tells the Aspen Daily News (http://bit.ly/ODjHaI ) the rain in July and August has helped nourish a lot of the forest. And he predicts the trees' color will peak the third week of September, which is the time it typically occurs.

He adds that no two seasons are alike and points to a new ACES program that encourages people to take pictures of certain plants, and then write down their locations to create an ongoing record.

Click here to have the print version of the Craig Daily Press delivered to your home.