Several campgrounds may open late as authorities spray for pine beetles

The opening of several campgrounds in the region may be delayed as authorities try to fight the mountain pine beetle infestation.

The Chambers Lake, Tunnel, Grandview, Browns Park and Long Draw campgrounds, which are in the Pawnee National Grassland and Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, will be sprayed with Carbaryl -- or Sevin, as it is also known -- to fight in infestation. The campgrounds will open about two days after they are sprayed and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

According to a release, a total of about 6,800 trees will be sprayed in the operation, with an additional 100 trees scheduled to be sprayed at the Stub Creek Cabin and Visitor Center areas. Last year, the pine beetle population grew about 1,500 percent in Larimer and Boulder counties, the release said. Should the trees in the campground remain infected in the fall, they may be cut.

For more information, please call Visitor Information services at (970) 295-6700 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/recreation/camping-picnicking/developed/alpha. For more information on the mountain pine beetle, please visit www.fs.fed.us/r2/bark-beetle/index.html.