The Middle Boulder Creek Fuels Reduction Partnership Project is a coordinated effort to reduce wildfire risk and enhance forest resilience across approximately 200 acres of fire-prone landscapes west of the Town of Nederland. The project spans a network of adjacent public and private properties in the Tucker and Elk Draw area.
Middle Boulder Creek Fuels Reduction Partnership Project
Project Scope and Goals
The goal of this project is to decrease the amount of hazardous forest fuels and reduce the risk of severe wildfires. This will be done using mechanical forest thinning, prescribed burning, and other treatment methods. These efforts will support resilient and diverse forests.
Work is expected to begin late 2025 and be completed in 2026.
Project Benefits
- Public safety for nearby communities, including the Town of Nederland.
- Protection of regional water supplies.
- Sustainable and resilient forest ecosystems.
By reducing forest fuels and improving forest resiliency, this project aims to protect both people and ecosystems. Working together with communities and partners across land boundaries improves our ability to take on the difficult challenges of wildfire risk and keep Colorado’s forests and communities strong.
Community Meetings
Boulder County and The Boulder Watershed Collective will host a final community meeting to introduce and answer initial questions about the draft project scope, which will be posted and open for online comment Monday, Aug. 4 through Friday, Aug. 15.
Previous Meetings
A site visit was held on May 17 where project partners met with community members and discussed the project. The Middle Boulder Creek Fuel Reduction Partnership Project FAQ document was created from feedback and questions received at the site visit.
The first community meeting was held on June 12 (meeting summary below).
Public Comments
Community members are encouraged to submit comments and attend the community meetings. Comments submitted before July 29 will be compiled and common themes will be addressed at the meeting. Comments will be accepted until Aug. 1. Project managers will consider changes that align with the project’s goals.
The Draft Scope of Work will be posted shortly after the July 31 meeting. Public comments on the draft will be accepted Aug. 4-15.
Project Areas
Tucker and Elk Draw (TED) Area
Located directly adjacent to Nederland, the TED project area includes approximately 105 acres of dense mixed-conifer forest that pose a significant wildfire threat due to high fuel loads and prevailing westerly winds. Fuel reduction treatments here will improve species diversity, spatial structure, and overall forest health. Slash and woody material will be processed for on-site use, biofuel, or responsibly burned.
Arapaho Ranch
Arapaho Ranch is privately owned land immediately south of the TED area. Work in this area will align with and expand on TED’s treatments. Work was previously done in the area in 2024 in partnership with COSWAP and the project will further reduce wildfire risk by creating a more discontinuous forest canopy and lowering the potential for active crown fires. The scope of work and ecological prescriptions will integrate seamlessly with treatments in adjacent project areas.
U.S. Forest Service Area
A 40-acre inholding managed by the U.S. Forest Service may be treated in the future if a Good Neighbor Agreement (GNA) can be established. The Colorado State Forest Service is working with the U. S. Forest Service on the GNA. Work in this area will enable coordinated fuel reduction efforts across federal and non-federal lands.
Project Timeline
- 2024: Nederland/Timberline FPD and Boulder County CWPPs identify area risk
- 2024: COSWAP-LRI Grant Awarded to Boulder County and Partners
- Data Collection/Monitoring: Summer 2024 -ongoing
- Online Comment Solicitation: Spring 2024 -July 31
- First Public Meeting: May 17
- Second Public Meeting: June 12
- Scope of Work Development: July-August
- Third Public Meeting: July 31
- Project Layout and Marking: August -Fall 2025
- RFP/Contractor Selection: Fall 2025
- Operations: Winter 2025/2026
- Project Close-Out: Early 2026
- Post Project Monitoring: 2026-2031
Funding and Project Partners
The project is funded by Boulder County and the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP). COSWAP, part of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, awarded the Landscape Resilience Investment Grant for the project.
This is a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies and organizations working across jurisdictions. Boulder County Parks & Open Space is managing the project.
- Boulder County Parks & Open Space
- Boulder County Wildfire Partners
- Boulder Watershed Collective
- City of Boulder
- Colorado Department of Natural Resources – Executive Director’s Office
- Colorado State Forest Service
- Town of Nederland
- U.S. Forest Service
Community Meeting #1 Summary
The first community meeting was held on June 12, 2025, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Nederland Community Center. Approximately 35 community members attended the meeting to learn about the project, including its goals, timeline, and partner organizations. Hosted by the Boulder Watershed Collective (BWC) and Boulder County Parks & Open Space, the meeting aimed to introduce the project, share community feedback collected to date, and gather additional input to help inform the draft project scope.
The meeting began with a welcome and overview of the agenda, followed by a presentation from project partners including BWC, Boulder County Parks & Open Space, Wildfire Partners, and City of Boulder Boulder Public Works, and Nederland Fire Protection District. Presenters outlined the project’s goals, potential co-benefits, and summarized the community input gathered so far. An open Q&A session followed, addressing topics such as prescribed burning, tree size cut limits, alternatives, and coordinated plans for a nearby U.S. Forest Service parcel.
The second half of the evening featured an open house format, where attendees engaged directly with project staff and partners at topic-specific stations. These included Water Resources, Home Hardening and Defensible Space, Treatment Planning, Forest Resilience, Recreation Management, and Fire Response. This structure allowed for place-based conversations and meaningful community input to support the development of a thoughtful and locally-informed project scope.
Next Steps
Building on the input gathered at this meeting, the project team will develop a draft project scope that reflects community interests, priorities, and concerns. This draft will be shared at the next public open house, scheduled for July 31 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Nederland Community Center.
Community members are encouraged to attend the upcoming open house to continue shaping the project. In the meantime, comments or questions about the Middle Boulder Creek Fuels Reduction Partnership Project can be submitted through the project webpage, which will be updated regularly with new materials and information.
Community Feedback
| Topic | Staffed By | Community Comment Themes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Resources | City of Boulder Public Works | Make water resilience a top priority |
| Home Hardening and Defensible Space | Wildfire Partners | Interest in combining home hardening services with nearby forest management efforts |
| Treatment Planning | Boulder County Parks & Open Space |
|
| Forest Resilience | Boulder County Parks & Open Space |
|
| Recreation Management | Boulder County Parks & Open Space |
|
| Fire Response | Nederland Fire Protection District | Interest in the use of natural fire mitigation strategies, such as reintroducing beavers |