Franktown Field Office – Forest Management & Stewardship
At the Franktown Field Office, we are dedicated to providing quality assistance to landowners by helping them enhance, protect and manage their forest property for optimum health now and for future generations.
The Franktown Field Office’s forest management programs provide a variety of services to Colorado landowners. We are dedicated to providing quality assistance to landowners in Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties by helping them achieve their resource management goals.
Our goal is to help landowners enhance, protect and manage their forest property for optimum health now and for future generations.
Services include assistance with the following programs:
- Forest management plans
- Thinning projects for forest health and restoration
- Fuels reduction and modification to reduce wildfire hazards
- Post-fire rehabilitation
- Insect and disease surveys and detection
- “Sick tree” calls – site visits for both large- and small-acreage properties
- Conservation tree planting plans
- Seedling tree advice
- Advice and assistance in coordinating forest contractors and consultants
- Public information and education
- Workshops for forest landowners, communities and homeowner associations
A masticator used on fuels treatment project
As a Colorado landowner, you can enhance the value of your forestland by being dedicated and concerned about forest management issues and wildfire. Managing your land will not only increase the value and health of your resource, but will also enhance and protect wildlife habitat, soil and water quality, and ecological diversity.
Please contact the Franktown Field Office if you have any questions about managing your forest property.
Programs for Landowners
Forest Ag
The Forest Agriculture Classification Program allows forested lands that meet specific specifications to have similar property tax valuation as that of traditional agricultural lands. The Forest Ag program is voluntary and landowners must meet annual requirements for eligibility. These include:
- The landowner must perform forest management activities to produce tangible wood products for the primary purpose of obtaining a monetary profit. Tangible wood products include transplants, Christmas trees and boughs, sawlogs, posts, poles and firewood.
- The landowner must have at least 40 forested acres.
- The landowner must submit a Colorado State Forest Service-approved forest management plan that is prepared by a professional forester or natural resources professional.
- Landowners must annually submit (1) a request for inspection, (2) an inspection fee, (3) an accomplishment report, and (4) an annual work plan for the following year. The enrolled property must be inspected annually by a CSFS forester.
More information can be found on the CSFS Forest Ag web page or contact the Franktown Field Office.
Tree Farm
A tree farm is a tract of privately owned land that is voluntarily dedicated by its owner to the growing of renewable resources, while protecting environmental benefits and increasing public understanding of sustainable forestry.
More information can be found on the CSFS Tree Farm web page or contact the Franktown Field Office.
Contractor List
The Franktown Field Office retains a list of local contractors who have asked to be on this list. We do not endorse any contractor and provide the listing only as a service to homeowners. Homeowners are advised to compare services, prices and references to find the contractor best suited for their particular needs. For additional information, see our Choosing a Forestry Contractor and Consultant (282 KB PDF) publication.
For the most current contractor list, please contact the Franktown Field Office at (303) 660-9625. If you are a local contractor and would like to be included on this list, please fill out the Forestry Contractor/Consultant Information Form (23 KB PDF).
Additional Resources
Funding Opportunities
Environmental Quality Incentive Program
The Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) provides a source of funding and technical assistance through the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to support forest management activities.
For NRCS office contact information, please visit our Local Partners page or the Natural Resources Conservation Service website.