Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation
Defensible space in a Castle Rock community funded through the FRWRM grant program
Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grant Program
Note: The 2024-2025 Request for Applications will open in late summer 2024.
The Colorado Legislature established the Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation (FRWRM) grant program in 2017. This program provides state support through competitive grant funds that encourage community-level actions across the state for some specific purposes:
- Reduce the risk of wildfire to people, property and infrastructure in the wildland-urban interface (WUI)
- Promote forest health and forest restoration projects
- Encourage use of woody material for traditional forest products and biomass energy
2023-2024 Forest Restoration & Wildfire Risk Mitigation Funded Projects
Healthy Forests & Vibrant Communities funds helped launch 31 projects last year to protect watersheds, reduce the risk of wildfire and adapt to climate change.
| Applicant | Project Name | County | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadmoor Resort Community HOA | Broadmoor Resort Community Wildfire Mitigation Plan | El Paso | $143,900.00 |
| City of Fort Collins | Michigan Ditch Pre-Fire Mitigation | Larimer/Jackson | $507,805.00 |
| Clear Creek Fire Authority | Clear Creek Community Chipping Program | Clear Creek | $26,500.00 |
| Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed | North Rim Road Wildfire Mitigation 2023 | Larimer | $90,000.00 |
| Coalition for the Upper South Platte | Catamount Region Forest Health | Park | $57,657.00 |
| Coalition for the Upper South Platte | CUSP Chipper | Park | $75,306.70 |
| Colorado Firecamp | Firecamp Community Forestry | Chaffee | $468,600.00 |
| Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) | Blodgett Fuels Reduction | El Paso | $142,400.00 |
| Colorado Springs Fire Department Wildfire Mitigation Section | CSFD Wildfire Mitigation Masticator | El Paso | $141,500.00 |
| Colorado State Land Board | Pine Creek Forest Health | Chaffee | $40,000.00 |
| Douglas County Open Space and Natural Resources | Sandstone Ranch Forest Restoration | Douglas | $354,000.00 |
| Eagle Valley Wildland (Eagle River Fire Protection District) | Eagle Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project Addendum | Eagle | $262,090.00 |
| Falls Creek Ranch Association, Inc. | Falls Creek Healthy Forest Restoration | La Plata | $65,000.00 |
| Falls Creek Ranch Association, Inc. | Falls Creek Fire Mitigation Tractor | La Plata | $37,000.00 |
| Genesee Fire Rescue | Genesee Fire Protection District Strategic Fuels Reduction | Jefferson | $68,000.00 |
| Genesee Fire Rescue | Genesee FPD Chipper | Jefferson | $50,000.00 |
| Jefferson Conservation District | Lone Rock Phase 2 | Park | $157,190.00 |
| La Plata County | Durango Area Fuel Reduction Plan Development | La Plata | $138,750.00 |
| Lake Agnes Property Owners Association (LAPOA) | Lake Agnes Fuel Break and Access Road Fuel Reduction Project | Grand | $113,317.00 |
| Larimer Conservation District | Diamond Creek Forest Restoration | Larimer | $450,000.00 |
| Larimer Conservation District | Elk Park Forest Restoration | Larimer | $663,750.00 |
| Larimer County Department of Natural Resources | Hermit Park Open Space - Estes Valley Forest Health Project | Larimer | $102,000.00 |
| Lee Driscoll | Castle View Forest Restoration Project | Denver | $775,000.00 |
| Lefthand FPD | Upper Ceran St. Vrain Watershed 2023 | Boulder | $243,029.68 |
| Mancos Conservation District | Upper Dolores & Mancos Watershed Capacity | Montezuma | $421,995.00 |
| Norrie Colony | Norrie Fire Break and Fuel Reduction Project | Pitkin | $25,600.00 |
| North Routt Fire Protection District | NoRoCo Fire Mitigation | Routt | $517,000.00 |
| Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative (RFVWC) | Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative (RFVWC) | Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin | $112,000.00 |
| Spanish Peaks Alliance for Wildfire Protection (SPAWP) | SPAWP 2023-2024 FRWRM Grant | Huerfano | $628,440.00 |
| The Sanctuary HOA/Central Park Management | The Sanctuary Mitigation Project | Routt | $60,000.00 |
| Woodmoor Mountain Homeowners Association | Woodmoor Mountain Mitigation Project 2.0 | Douglas | $303,750.00 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Colorado State Forest Service has approximately $7,200,000 to award in this next round of funding. There are no minimum or maximum amounts for each award.
The following individuals, organizations or entities may apply:
- Local community groups, including registered homeowner associations and formal neighborhood associations, that are located within or are in close proximity to the WUI
- Local government entities including counties, municipalities, fire protection districts and other special districts in or within close proximity to the WUI
- Public or private utilities, including water providers, with infrastructure or land ownership in areas with high risk of catastrophic wildfires
- State agencies, such as the State Land Board and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, that own land in areas with high risk of catastrophic wildfires
- Non-profit groups that promote hazardous forest fuel reduction treatment projects or are engaged in firefighting or fire management activities
NOTE: Projects that benefit only one individual do NOT qualify.
More information will be provided in the formal Request for Applications. Previous projects awards have provided funding for capacity and fuels and forest health treatments. It’s important to note that funds can be used for forest restoration, but funds cannot be used for post-fire rehabilitation activities.
Application period is August 16 – Oct. 18, 2023.
Awards will be made by April 1, 2024.
Interested applicants should contact their local CSFS Field Office.
Legislation during the 2021 Colorado legislative session provided additional funding and an expanded scope for the program. Applications and requirements have changed from previous years, so we encourage applicants to thoroughly review documents and contact their local Colorado State Forest Service field office with questions.