Forest Restoration & Wildfire Mitigation
Cost-share Program
About the Program
MCD works with private landowners to implement forest restoration projects on mid- to large-sized (15-100+) acreages in Montezuma County.
We provide grant-funded cost-share opportunities to make forest restoration accessible. To further simplify the process for you, our Forestry team will also manage logistics, including:
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MCD will secure an operator through a competitive bidding process. Our primary goals are to ensure that costs are accessible and that the contractor suits the landscape and the landowner’s priorities.
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An MCD Forester will write a Forest Management Plan (FMP) specific to the landscape, ecosystem needs, and the landowner’s desired future conditions.
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The MCD Forestry Team will see the project through from beginning to end, ensuring work is implemented according to the management plan.
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The MCD Forestry Team conducts pre-implementation monitoring to evaluate forest conditions prior to work on the ground. We also offer post-implementation monitoring, if the landowner wants to participate in continued monitring efforts.
Why We Do Wildfire Mitigation
Forest in Southwest Colorado, particularly Ponderosa Pine forests are fire adapted ecosystems.
Historically, low-severity fires were a common and natural occurrence in low elevation Ponderosa stands. These frequent fire regimes would thin understory vegetation, reducing ladder fuels and creating more space between existing tree groups and individuals.
Due to wildfire suppression and other management legacies, current forest conditions do not reflect those that existed historically. Today, tree densities are significantly higher and species composition has shifted, leading to a loss of complexity and variation.
As a result, forest landscapes are more vulnerable to extreme wildfire conditions and disease. Loss of variety also hinders the ecosystems ability to support healthy plant and wildlife habitat and clean water.
By implementing Forest Restoration plans - which often includes prescribed burning and/or thinning trees and shrubs - we can reduce fuel loads and help our forests return to a more resilient and diverse state.
Sustaining Healthy, Resilient Forests
Wildfire is a natural process here in SW Colorado, but we can take steps to reduce its severity by adapting forest conditions through selective thinning and other mechanical treatments, which reduce wildfire risk and create more resilient forests.
Our prescriptions aim to reduce ladder fuels (vegetation growing underneath the crowns of overstory trees) and create gaps in the overstory canopy. These gaps break up crown continuity and decrease risk of crown fire, which often spreads more rapidly and causes significantly more torching than a lower severity ground fire.
While our prescriptions are based on the best available science, we strive to continually learn and adapt our practices to the ecosystems we are working with.
Project Before & After Photos
Interested in a Forestry project?
Our Forestry Program Manager would be happy to walk you through the process and schedule a free site assessment.
email: tara@mancoscd.org
phone: 970-880-4474