Forest and grassland management is essential for meeting major wildfire‑mitigation goals. These practices strengthen the ability of forests and grasslands to withstand fire, insects, and disease, while also supporting healthy wildlife habitats and protecting important watersheds. By investing in a well‑planned management approach, we can maintain diverse, resilient ecosystems and help reduce extreme fire behavior when wildfires inevitably occur. Learn more on the Wildfire Mitigation homepage.
Forest and Grasslands Management
The Boulder County Fireshed
In August of 2020, federal, state, and local governments joined with non-profit entities in Boulder County to establish the Boulder County Fireshed. This group collaborates on coordinated forest management efforts to reduce the risk of wildfire. Their shared goal is to protect people, communities, recreation areas, and natural resources. This agreement has been codified through a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Ditch Wildfire Mitigation Program
The Ditch Wildfire Mitigation Program works to reduce wildfire risks along ditch corridors and waterways. These areas support wildlife and farming but can also spread fire if not properly managed.
The county is taking a proactive approach to address the issue of dried fuels that have built up along ditches over decades. We are removing these fuels to reduce risk to the community.
Methods used for mitigation may include:
- Removing woody material and taking it offsite.
- Chipping and spreading of wood material onsite.
- Applying biological treatments, such as fungal inoculation (mycelium), to speed up decomposition.
- Using targeted livestock grazing, such as goats, to reduce fine fuels.
- Thinning and removing old slash piles.
- Using prescribed fire where feasible.
For more information view the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Ditch Wildfire Mitigation Program webpage.
Grasslands Management
Our grasslands provide an enormous public benefit as they support our pollinators, wildlife and livestock and maintain healthy soil, mitigate drought and floods, and contribute to climate stability. Fire has been a part of maintaining healthy grassland throughout the ages, but the incidence of wildfires in grasslands continues to grow as droughts persist in semi-arid regions including Boulder County. With ever increasing development within grassland urban interfaces, land managers, municipalities and communities are facing new challenges on how we “live with wildfire”. Managers must balance protecting lives, homes, and critical infrastructure with the importance of maintaining healthy grassland ecosystems.
Grasslands Management Resources and Information
- Bark and Pine Beetles
- Boulder County Fireshed
- Boulder County – Ditch Management
- City of Boulder Open Space – Wildfire Risk Management
- Colorado Plains Ecosystem
- Grasslands Story Map
- Grassland Management – Prescribed Fire
- Grassland Management – Do’s and Don’ts
- Grasslands Wildfire Workshop Presentations
- Marshall Fire, Facilitated Learning Analysis
Forest Management in Boulder County and Colorado
Boulder County’s forests provide us with clean air and water, habitat for wildlife, recreational opportunities and a way of living. As with all of Colorado, Boulder County is facing challenges to its forests, including larger and increasingly destructive wildfires, more frequent and intensive insect and disease outbreaks and increasing impacts from recreation users and human development in the wildland urban interface (WUI).
Forest Management Resources and Information
- Arapahoe Roosevelt National Forest, Boulder Ranger District
- Boulder County Parks and Open Space Forestry Division
- The Watershed Center
- Boulder Watershed Collective
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife – Forest Management
- Colorado State Forest Services (CSFS)
- CSFS – Colorado Forest Atlas
- CSFS – Forest Action Plan
- CSFS – Common Forest Insects and Diseases
- Denver Water – Watershed Protection & Management
- Longmont and Boulder Valley Conservation District – Forestry and Fire
Funding Opportunities
The links below access state, federal and local grant programs. Check back directly to the individual sites on a regular basis for updates on grant cycles or changes to grant programs hosted by the specific entity. Please note that this may not be a comprehensive list of all grant opportunities.
- These opportunities generally apply to communities, HOA’s, and state, local, tribal, and non-governmental cooperators.
- Grant program descriptions will include criteria, eligibility, guidelines, and other details on individual grant programs.
- Funding opportunities may apply to one or all of the following: wildfire mitigation, planning, capacity building and outreach and education funding.
Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) Grant Programs
- Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grants
- Incentives for Local Government Grants
- Wildfire Mitigation Resources and Best Practices Grants
- CSFS’s Natural Resources Grant Program
Other Colorado State Grants
- Workforce Development Grant – Colorado Department of Natural Resources
- Colorado Watershed Restoration Grant – Colorado Department of Natural Resources
Federal Grant Opportunities
- USDA/USFS – Grant Database
- USDA – Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program
- FEMA – Grants
- FEMA – Fire Management Assistance Grant