Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse, Crow, Pettersen Welcome Over $26 Million to Reduce Wildfire Risk Across Colorado

WASHINGTON –
Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, and Representatives Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen announced more than $26 million from the U.S. Forest Service to reduce wildfire risk and protect vulnerable Colorado communities. The funding comes from the $5.5 billion in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Hickenlooper helped
negotiate
, for forest management and wildfire preparedness.
“
Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is all about giving communities the tools to tackle 21st-century challenges,
” said Hickenlooper. “
These local projects will help communities in Colorado and the West prepare for severe wildfires and address local risks. They’re the bipartisan solutions that Congress should deliver frequently.
”
“
In the last few years, Colorado has faced increasingly devastating threats from the largest wildfires in our state’s history,
” said Bennet. “
Investing in wildfire mitigation and preparedness is critical to safeguarding our communities, public lands, and way of life for future generations. I’m glad the investments we fought to secure in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continue to benefit Colorado and support important wildfire preparedness efforts across the state.
”
Hickenlooper has led efforts to combat the wildfire crisis and support wildfire resilience. He helped negotiate and introduce the
Fix Our Forests Act
that will help reduce wildfire risk for Colorado communities and speed up mitigation projects while maintaining environmental safeguards and encouraging local involvement. Hickenlooper has also helped secure billions in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the
Inflation Reduction Act
to support wildfire risk reduction and new firefighting equipment. He
fought
the Trump admin’s illegal mass firings of federal employees that support wildfire resilience on our public lands and introduced
legislation
to restore those fired public servants.
A full list of funded Colorado projects is below:
Recipient
Funding Amount
Project Title
Description
Coalition for the Upper South Platte
$249,290
Coalition for the Upper South Platte Park County CWPP Update
This project will update the county-wide 2007 Park County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The updated plan will meet all current requirements put forth by the Colorado State Forest Service and The Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003.
Grand County Wildfire Council
$2,448,000
Grand County West Granby Fuels Corridor
The project is an 800-acre hazardous fuels reduction effort west and south of Granby, Colorado. This project will include strategic fuel breaks that will protect Granby and fuels reduction work will connect and enhance multiple ongoing wildfire mitigation efforts.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
$9,668,390
Jefferson County Wildland Fire Risk Mitigation, Education and Capacity Building
Funds from this grant will support implementation of the Jefferson County Wildfire Management Plan (WFMP) and Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes (SLASH) program.
Larimer County Office of Emergency Management
$9,856,000
Protecting the Gateway to the Rockies
This project will improve wildfire defense in the area known as the “Gateway to the Rockies”.
Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative
$865,009
Glenwood Springs Wildfire Mitigation and Home Resilience Project
The Glenwood Springs Wildfire Mitigation and Home Resilience Project is designed to reduce wildfire risk, enhance community preparedness, and protect critical infrastructure.
The Ember Alliance
$118,814
Livermore Fire Protection District CWPP Development
This project will create a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for the Livermore Fire Protection District in Larimer County, Colorado to effectively plan for and mitigate the risk of wildfires.
White River Conservation District
$531,308
Resident Mitigation & Resilience Project in Eastern Rio Blanco County
Over four years, the project will assist at-risk groups in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) priority-identified areas to help them prepare for and reduce the risks associated with wildfires.
Wildfire Adapted Partnership
$2,573,318
CWPP implementation in Montezuma County, CO
This project will involve multiple programs and initiatives aimed at educating the public and enhancing wildfire preparedness, supporting defensible space and community cost share projects.
More information on the Colorado projects is available
HERE
.
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