Partners – Page 3 – BAILEY HEALTHY FORESTS INITIATIVE

Natural Resources Grants Database

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Amy Jacobi

The Colorado State Forest Service has launched a searchable database for funding opportunities related to natural resources. The database is geared toward helping community groups, educators, fire departments, businesses, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, individuals, landowners, researchers, and others interested in promoting the health of Colorado’s natural resources find funding and assistance opportunities for their projects and programs. Funding opportunities for programs in agroforestry, wildfire mitigation, watershed protection, forest health, education, and more are included in the database. The database includes more than 50 active grants and assistance programs, and more will be added as they become available. The database is free and does not require a login.

Check out this great resource at http://nrdb.csfs.colostate.edu

Moving from Policy to Action

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Amy Jacobi

Check out this recording of “Fire Adapted Communities: Moving from Policy to Action,” with Molly Mowery, President, Wildfire Planning International and member of the Network Coordination Team of the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network.

Pile Burning Scheduled

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Amy Jacobi

The Coalition for the Upper South Platte’s fuels management crews are scheduled to begin pile burning in the next few weeks.

Crews will begin burning piles located north of Divide within the Ute Lakes Fishing and Recreation Club, and east of Woodland Park at the Glen Aspen Boy Scout Camp, off of Loy Creek Road. Burning will occur as weather and conditions allow throughout the next few months.

Smoke may be visible on Highway 24, County Road 5, Highway 67, Rampart Range Road and Loy Creek Road. Smoke-sensitive residents should consider staying indoors and keeping doors, windows and outside vents closed.

Fuels management staff will post road signs around the areas affected by the pile burns and send Nixel notifications. For more information please contact the Coalition for the Upper South Platte at cusp@uppersouthplatte.org or 719.748.0033

Biomass for Energy

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Amy Jacobi

Colorado Springs Utilities will be using less coal in the upcoming year. Their pilot project will study replacing some of the coal at their Drake Power Plant with biomass. What a great way to use biomass and generate cleaner energy! Read more in the following articles:

Springs Utilities to launch pilot program to burn wood biofuel by the Colorado Springs Gazette

Colorado Springs Utilities plans to use less coal next year by KRDO News 13

A Note from Aspen Hills

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Amy Jacobi

Winter is here and its a great time to look at where we are and what lies ahead in our wildfire mitigation efforts.

Here is a pretty comprehensive article (albeit long) on the current state of affairs in Colorado. http://www.postindependent.com/news/9232580-113/beetle-forest-colorado-pine

There is a good section on a community that achieved the Firewise Community designation and noticed better insurance rates and improved property values, as a result.

It also discusses Gov. Hickenloopers proposal to increase taxes to property owners in the WildlandUrban-Interface…us.

The article is from the Glenwood Springs/Grand Junction paper, so it doesn’t mention the terrific work of the Coalition for the Upper South Platte, which is regional. But our partnership with CUSP has been instrumental in our designation as a Firewise Community, and we look forward to increased cooperation with them, as well as our partners at the Colorado State Forest Service.

Since our community meeting last Spring, we have added 3 more property owner’s to our grant program. This brings the total number of properties signed up to 35 out of 63 properties in Aspen Hills. In addition, we now have a better way of communication between property owners for items of community interest, thanks to Vicki Rector!

This year the property owners that signed up to have their work partially or fully contracted will be getting that work done thanks to our friends at CUSP, who will be overseeing the projects. For the rest of us doing our own work, we have until Feb. 2015 to complete the work in order to qualify for the grant. Winter is a good time to cut, although it poses some unique problems, especially when moving felled trees in heavy snow on steep slopes!

I look forward to working with all of you in the upcoming year, especially in getting out the information on filling out the required paperwork and keeping track of time for the grant. As you know there is a push in the U.S. Congress to make more funds available for Wildfire Mitigation and both parties seem to be able to agree on that. I will try to keep track of and publicize any future grants as they become available.

Please have a wonderful Holiday Season and Merry Christmas!

Very Respectfully,

Greg Jones

Forest Cooperatives in Colorado

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Amy Jacobi

To find out more about forest collaboratives, check out this page on the nationwide Collaborative Forest Restoration Program.

Continuity & Momentum in the Aftermath of Wildfire – Woodland Park Firewise Communities

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Amy Jacobi

Examples of this perseverance in the face of catastrophe abound among our Firewise brethren. For example, in response to last year’s Waldo Canyon Fire, which destroyed nearly 300 homes in Colorado, community activists Bonnie Sumner and Scott Lord led their respective communities (Majestic Park and Forest Edge County Ridge Estates) in stepping up their local efforts. Sumner recalls attending a remembrance marking the 10-year anniversary of the 2002 Hayman Fire, where she picked up information about Firewise principles. Three days later, the Waldo Canyon Fire struck.

Read the full article in the Fall 2013 Firewise How-To Newsletter