Linking the Forest to the Faucet

Fire Wise in Colorado

Background and Summary
In Colorado and throughout the West, catastrophic wildfire is one of the greatest threats to water quality and river ecosystem viability.

Very hot wildfires burn understory and overstory vegetation, which exposes soils. Rains that occur after these fires cause significant erosion. These same fires create an impermeable “hydrophobic” layer in the soil that resists water absorption, resulting in severe erosion, sedimentation and flooding.

In 2002, fire roared through Colorado – 1,400 wildfires burned 379,000 acres resulting in firefighting expenses in excess of $155 million. In 2004, 899 fires burned 17,300 acres. An ongoing regional drought contributes to dry fuel conditions and scarcity of water resources and increased demand underscores the important role forests play in providing both the greatest quantity and highest quality of water for Colorado.

Forests cover approximately 32 percent of Colorado. Nearly 16 million acres are publicly owned, while approximately 6 million acres are private, held by more than 100,000 families.

The Shared Streams initiative in Colorado aimed to increase awareness and participation by family forest owners in efforts to mitigate damage from wildfire

Partners: Shared Streams in Colorado partnered with Altria Group, Denver Water, the Colorado State Forest Service, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the USDA Forest Service, and other public agencies. Together these organizations worked to promote healthy forest management that minimized conditions conducive to catastrophic wildfire, protects water quality and improves wildlife habitat.

The initiative had two components:

View an article (pdf) on the initiative that appeared in the Sept/Oct 2004 issue of Tree Farmer magazine.

Outreach and Education Activities

1. Educational Forest Trails

These conservation education trails provide a permanent on-the-ground forum where groups can learn about Colorado’s critical fire issues and their potential impact on water quality. These trails are open to the public, by appointment.

2. Fire Wise Awareness Sign
Awareness signs provide public recognition for family forest owners who are managing their forests to conserve our water quality, natural areas and wildlife—now and for future generations.

This is the sign of a family forest owner who has worked with the Colorado State Forest Service to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfire on their land. In order to receive this 12” x 18” aluminum sign, a forest owner must hold more than ten acres and complete an application, approved by a Colorado State Forest Service forester, detailing the management practices they have employed to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire on their property.

If you are a Colorado forest owner interested in obtaining a sign, download and complete an application form (pdf). There is no cost to the landowner for the sign.

Management Practices Employed for Fire Mitigation
To date, 79 signs have been distributed to family forest owners who have been verified by the Colorado State Forest Service as having reduced the risk of wildfire on 3,023 acres. The total acreage held by these landowners is 10,692 acres.

Last updated 11/8/06.