Pyrite Unit Fuels Reduction & Forest Restoration Project to take place this fall

Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder County Parks & Open Space forestry staff will host a community meeting in Lyons about an upcoming forestry project to reduce hazardous fuels at Heil Valley Ranch, adjacent to Pyrite Way.

What: Community Meeting
When: Tuesday, Aug. 1, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Lyons Fire Station, 251 Broadway, Lyons

The community meeting will begin with a presentation about the forestry operations and potential impacts to nearby residents and park visitors. Parks & Open Space staff will be on hand to answer questions about the project until 8:30 p.m.

The department will thin 35 acres at Heil Valley Ranch beginning in late August to early September, with anticipated completion by mid-December 2017. This project will take place on county land adjacent to Pyrite Way. The primary goal is to reduce wildfire risk to adjoining residences.

This forest management project will reduce the overall density of ponderosa pine stands by up to 75 percent, creating a mosaic of forest cover and open meadows.

There may be noise from chainsaws, heavy equipment, wood processing equipment, and heavy truck traffic during project operations. Operations are weather-dependent and will only be conducted during daylight hours, Monday through Friday.

The hazardous fuels reduction treatment is planned as part of the Boulder County Parks & Open Space North Foothills Open Space Management Plan, and is partially funded through a Colorado Department of Natural Resources Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant.

For more information, visit www.BoulderCountyOpenSpace.org/pyrite or contact Forestry Supervisor Stefan Reinold at sreinold@bouldercounty.org or 303-678-6202.

Homeowner Mitigation with Wildfire Partners
In addition to reducing fuels on it Parks & Opens Space land, Boulder County strongly encourages all homeowners in Lyons Park Estates to perform wildfire mitigation on their own property. The county’s mitigation program, Wildfire Partners, is available to help.

Please visit, www.WildfirePartners.org to learn more and apply. This program offers valuable technical assistance and financial assistance up to $2,500 to hire one of 12 Wildfire Partners Forestry Contractors. Homeowners who attend the Aug. 1 Community Meeting will receive a coupon for a free Wildfire Partners home assessment that normally costs $100.

Because fuels treatments alone may not protect homes, homeowners need to take responsibility and action to reduce the ignition potential of their homes. The Pyrite Project and the Wildfire Partners assessment and certification processes will help homeowners effectively reduce their wildfire risk.