Each year the Colorado State Forest Service recognizes partners and volunteers who provide exceptional assistance helping the agency reach its goals of forest stewardship. This year the CSFS had a diverse slate of awardees representing many aspects of forestry, from fuels reduction to community outreach, that are improving the health of Colorado’s forests alongside the CSFS.
Partner of the Year – Kim Peters and Julie Knudson
Working with the La Veta Field Office, Kim Peters with CSU Extension and Julie Knudson with the Purgatoire Watershed Partnership frequently and consistently engaged with the residents of Las Animas County and the Purgatoire Watershed to build a culture of wildfire mitigation and natural resource education. They reached out to small-acreage landowners and socially vulnerable residents, through forums that educated communities on a variety of forest health issues that are relevant to their lived experiences: wildfire mitigation, wildlife behaviors and watershed health. Peters and Knudson used a variety of settings, from tours to lunches to presentations, to reach as many people as they could to improve the health and resiliency of the area’s forests and watersheds.
Volunteer of the Year – Black Forest Slash & Mulch Yard
The Black Forest Slash-Mulch Program is a wildfire mitigation and recycling program. Co-sponsored by the El Paso County Environmental Division, Colorado Forestry Association and the Black Forest Fire Department, the program has been going on for 30 years, since 1994. During this time, the Black Forest Slash & Mulch Yard has helped El Paso County residents dispose of slash and tree debris to reduce the risk of wildfire and promote healthy forests in the area. With more than 250 volunteers, the Black Forest Slash & Mulch Yard exemplifies the CSFS mission and vision.
Special recognitions
Two other partners went above and beyond to help the CSFS complete projects, create jobs and build visibility for our forests and the timber industry across the state.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad contributed time, donations and other assistance with coordination and planning of the extremely successful Glacier/Rockwood Fuels Mitigation project in La Plata County. The railroad’s participation in the project garnered substantial media attention that helped inspire other local biomass producers to reach out to the CSFS. The project’s visibility also led to positive feedback from residents and private landowners about the wildfire mitigation project. The D&SNG played a key role in the success of this entire project that significantly benefits the forest, watershed and community.
Megan Maxwell, executive director of CTIA
Megan Maxwell has been at the helm of the Colorado Timber Industry Association for just over a year and is doing an outstanding job, providing substantial support to the CSFS in multiple ways. Maxwell played an important role in the best management practices for water quality field monitoring team, spending a week away from family and her new role as CTIA director. She also organized the CTIA annual meeting in Montrose, with knowledgeable speakers and an informative field visit to the Montrose Forest Products Mill. Every day, Maxwell demonstrates her commitment to facilitating the crucial relationship between the timber industry and resource managers to support jobs and economic growth in Colorado communities.
These businesses, individuals and groups enable the CSFS to work toward its mission to achieve stewardship of Colorado’s diverse forest environments for the benefit of present and future generations.