Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Nederland and Timberline Fire Protection Districts
Welcome
This StoryMap is a condensed way to explore your Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). It includes resources and action plans for those who live, work, and manage land within and around the Nederland and Timberline Fire Protection Districts (FPDs). Click through the tabs at the top of the page to explore this StoryMap. To access the Nederland and Timberline FPDs’ full CWPP document, visit the PDF.
If you would like to learn more about upcoming projects, visit:
Image: Sign in Nederland, The Boulder Watershed Collective
What is a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), and why update it?
Communities and wildfire professionals develop Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) through a collaborative process to identify local hazards and priorities for wildfire risk reduction and resilience. These priorities are organized and align with the goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy . These goals are Resilient Landscapes; Fire Adapted Communities; and Safe & Effective Wildfire Response.
This CWPP updates the 2011 Nederland and Timberline CWPP with the most recent Colorado Wildfire Risk Assessment (CO-WRA) landscape fuel analysis and incorporates more recent data on community perspectives and values. Wildfire risk was modeled for both moderate and extreme weather events, taking into account the hotter and drier conditions brought about by climate change.
Image to right: The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Mangement Strategy - US DOI & USDA
Goals and Objectives of the Updated CWPP
Wildfire is a natural and integral part of Colorado ecosystems. This updated CWPP process presents the community an opportunity to plan and act collectively to better live with fire.
These goals (presented in the image to the right) were realized through the following objectives:
- Updating the Wildfire Risk Analysis and Fire Behavior modeling using the most recent available data.
- Identifying factors that limit undesirable fire effects on the Values at Risk (hazard levels).
- Engaging community members to map and identify community values and desired project priorities.
- Recommend specific actions that will reduce hazards to the Values at Risk and integrate community values.
Image to right: CWPP Goals - The Boulder Watershed Collective
To put this plan into action, holistic and diverse strategies were considered using the Fire Adapted Communities model , and included forest health and ecosystem resilience.
Image: Fire Adapted Communities Model - Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network.
Community & Partner Engagement Process
Collaboration included engagement across a Core Team of local, state, and federal agencies, analysts, and residents, and engagement with community members, representing residents and businesses across the CWPP area.
The Core Team of agency partners met monthly over a period of one year to discuss the risk analysis and fire behavior modeling, and to plan engagement opportunities for the community.
Community engagement included a series of "touch points" across the Community Engagement Timeline shown below.
Appendix D of the full CWPP provides comprehensive details on how the results of each phase of engagement were incorporated into the development of action items in the CWPP process. This was an intentional, evidence-based, and meticulous process. Overall, in the final incorporation of community input, any non place-based input (priorities that were not attached to any specific location within the CWWPP area), where 6 or more people commented/voted for a specific action item, was automatically included as a priority in the final CWPP. There were 10 priorities fitting these criteria. Priorities mentioned by 6 or fewer people were included in a further prioritization process, and as a result, many of these were included in the final CWPP if they also aligned with CWPP core team priorities. For place-based priorities (those that referenced a specific location within the CWPP area), the CWPP core team underwent a facilitated workshop in which community engagement findings were presented and the core team was given opportunities to adjust their priority projects in response. This resulted in adapting some projects to include community objectives and adjusting project boundaries to include the community’s recommended spatial scales.
Community Engagement Timeline:
Summer & Fall 2022
A team of CU graduate students led 38 interviews & 3 visioning workshops to gather a list of non-place specific actions they recommended for wildfire resilience.
July 2023
CWPP Kick-off event to learn about the timing, content and purpose of the CWPP.
September 2023
The Boulder Watershed Collective (BWC) & a CU PhD student hosted 4 mapping workshops and one digital survey to gather place-specific recommended actions for wildfire resilience and fire adaptation.
July & August 2024
Public comment period and integration of community feedback, and final roll-out of the full CWPP document and Story Map.
The CWPP priority items blended community values and the core team’s expertise through these engagement processes. To see the full Community Engagement process, check out Appendix D of the full CWPP document.
All Images: Community Engagement Events - The Boulder Watershed Collective
If you would like to learn more about upcoming projects, visit:
Area Context
Nederland & Timberline Fire Protection Districts (FPDs)
This Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) addresses lands within Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) and the part of Timberline Fire Protection District (TFPD) located within Boulder County. The area is approximately 40,000 acres, spanning elevations from 6,800 ft - 13,000ft.
Map to right: CWPP area boundaries in the Nederland and Timberline Fire Protection Districts (Click the map or zoom to interact) - The Ember Alliance
This broad elevation range corresponds with varied landscape vegetation intermixed with riparian corridors - where we see primarily ponderosa pine to the east (below 8,000 ft), dominated lodgepole pine forests at the two fire district's border (at 8,000 ft), and predominantly spruce and fir with barren and sparsely populated slopes occurring at the highest elevations (above 12,000ft). Given this complexity, the core team and community recommended a nuanced approach to landscape-scale wildfire mitigation - one considering multiple objectives for protecting the community (e.g. wildfire risk reduction, egress route improvement) AND ecological restoration.
Map Above: Colorado Forest Atlas & Colorado State Forest Service - The Ember Alliance.
CWPP Planning Units
The CWPP process identified 19 communities within the planning area (14 in the Nederland Fire Protection District and 5 in Timberline Fire Protection District). These "units" represent the most densely populated neighborhoods within the CWPP area, and help identify zones for building hyper-local mitigation capacity. These planning units helped determine relative risk ratings of each unit (see ‘ Neighborhood Recommendations ’ for more information).
Map to right: CWPP Planning Units (Click map or zoom to interact) - The Ember Alliance.
Our Values at Risk
A key part of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) process is identifying current values at risk to catastrophic wildfire and presenting specific actions we can take to reduce hazards and risks to these values.
Map: Non-residential values within and around Nederland/Timberline Fire Protection Districts, including source water protection areas, outlined in blue (Click the image for a larger view) - The Ember Alliance using aggregated agency data.
Life Safety, Health, and Homes
All residents within the CWPP area live within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI - where human infrastructure meets wildland vegetation) and are exposed to elevated wildfire risks. As felt by residents, wildfire poses direct risks to human and animal lives and homes. It also impacts our health directly and indirectly through poor air quality, and mental health after a traumatic experience. These risks fall disproportionately on vulnerable and underserved members of our communities.
Image to right: A fire burning near a home in California - Anthony Citrano/Creative Commons
Economic Values
Locally understood, tourism is an important part of Nederland’s economy, providing many jobs in the area involved in the service and retail industries. The town receives a large portion of the annual area tourist traffic to the nearby Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, visitors to the Eldora Mountain Resort, and vehicles traveling the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Byway. In addition to tourism, the town services weekly visitors for goods and services in the area.
Image to right: Town of Nederland Visitor's Center - Town of Nederland
Critical Infrastructure
The CWPP area has a mix of privately and publicly owned land. Barker Reservoir and Dam provides up to 40% of the drinking water for the City of Boulder. Ash, sediment, and associated runoff from a wildfire could impact both water quality and energy production. Other important infrastructure include Nederland’s drinking water and waste water treatment plant, an abundance of power lines, and transportation systems that include Regional Transportation District service sites, roads and highways, and trails.
Image to right: Barker Dam and Reservoir - Boulder Watershed Collective
Watersheds and Rivers
The CWPP area lies within the Boulder Creek Watershed, which is a part of the larger South Platte Watershed. The Town of Nederland is geographically situated near the top of the watershed, where minimizing impacts to stream and creek corridors is vital to protecting water for downstream users. Wildfires can cause substantial erosion, thereby significantly impacting aquatic and terrestrial life, creating filter clogging problems at water treatment plants and potentially shutting down hydroelectric power generation.
Riparian areas in the watershed provide valuable habitat for mammals, fishes, amphibians, reptiles and birds. The native greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorrhyncus clarki stomias), a federally listed threatened species, is found within the watershed area. There are also 13 avian Species of Special Concern and several threatened mammal species.
Map: North and Middle Boulder Creek Map - The St. Vrain Basin Watershed-Based Plan
Current Wildfire Risk
Explore the maps below to understand how wildfire risk was assessed and represented in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) planning process.
Image: Calwood Fire 2020 - Nate Goeckner
Wildland Urban Interface
The map to the right shows where the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) overlaps with planning units within the CWPP area. All residents of Nederland/Timberline Fire Protection Districts (FPDs) live in the Wildland-Urban Interface and/or Intermix and are exposed to elevated wildfire risk. The WUI area was defined by the CWPP core team and includes surrounding landscape that could transmit wildland fire into any of the CWPP Plan Units.
Map: WUI Areas in CWPP, The Ember Alliance from full CWPP document
Fire History Along the Front Range
Explore the map to the right to view fire history in and around the CWPP planning area. Click on fire areas to view their name, year, acreage, and associated land management agency.
Map: Wildfire History on the Front Range - The Ember Alliance from aggregated agency data
Severe Fire Behavior Exposure in Nederland/Timberline FPDs
Under moderate fire weather conditions—conditions typical of a summer day in the Nederland/Timberline Fire Protection Districts—64% percent of the area could experience high to extreme fire behavior, and this percentage increases to 77% under less common but more extreme, hot, dry, and windy conditions. High to extreme fire behavior includes ember production that ignites additional fires away from the main fire and the movement of high-intensity fire from treetop to treetop. Such fires are extremely challenging if not impossible to control until winds die down and fuel moistures increase.
Map: Fire Behavior Class - The Ember Alliance
Fuel Treatment History in the Nederland & Timberline FPD
Explore the map to the right to view fuel treatment history in and around the CWPP planning area. Click on treatment areas to view treatment type, year, acreage, and associated land management agency.
Map: Fuel Treatment History - The Ember Alliance from aggregated agency data
Preparing Your Home for Wildfire
Here are some ways you can prepare your home for wildfire.
Wildfire preparedness is made up Home Hardening (structure ignitability) and Defensible Space - all part of the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) .
The chance of your home surviving a wildfire increases when you reduce structural ignitability through these measures.
If you would like to learn more about upcoming projects (including home hardening and defensible space projects), visit:
Image: The Home Ignition Zone - Colorado State Forest Service
Home Hardening
Home hardening is the practice of making a home less likely to ignite from the heat or direct contact with flames or embers. This involves reducing this risk by updating building materials, like vents, and structural characteristics of a home. Fire can threaten structures even from a distance, as embers can travel more than a mile and ignite vegetation or other material upon landing. Homes in denser neighborhoods are also at risk of short-range embers from nearby homes, which could lead to structure-to-structure ignitions.
Example Measures to Harden Your Home
Lower Cost Actions | Higher Cost Actions |
|---|---|
(B) Cover chimneys and stovepipe outlets with 3/8 th to ½ inch corrosion-resistant metal mesh. | (H) Install ignition-resistant or noncombustible roofs (composite, metal, or tile). |
(E) Cover vent openings with 1/16 th to 1/8 th inch corrosion-resistant metal mesh. Install dryer vents with metal flappers and keep closed unless in use. | (I) 2 feet from base of home, use noncombustible or ignition resistant siding and trim (e.g., stucco, fiber cement, fire-retardant treated wood). |
(G) Clear debris from roof and gutters regularly. | (P) Replace wooden fences with noncombustible materials and keep at least 8 feet away from the home. Keep double combustible fences at least 20 feet away from the home. |
Image: Common Recommended Home Hardening Measures - Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire with modifications to include information from CALFIRE 2019 and Maranghides et al. 2022.
Defensible Space
Defensible Space is the area around a building where vegetation, debris, and other types of combustible fuels have been treated, cleared, or reduced to slow the spread of fire and reduce exposure to radiant heat and direct flame. This creates a buffer between your home and grass, trees, and shrubs that could ignite during a wildland fire. This buffer can slow the spread of wildfire, prevent direct flame contact, and reduce the chance that embers will ignite material on or near your home (Hakes et al., 2017). These actions include annual home and defensible space maintenance.
Defensible space is divided into multiple home ignition zones (HIZs) around a home, as seen in the table below.
0-5 ft from Structure (HIZ 1) | 5-30 ft from Structure (HIZ 2) | 30-100ft from Structure (HIZ 3) |
|---|---|---|
Goal - Prevent direct flames to home | Goal - slow movement of flames | Goal- slow fire movement, reduce embers |
Ex. Create a noncombustible border 5 feet around your home. Replace flammable materials such as wood chips or grass, with alternatives like dirt, stone, or gravel. | Ex 1. Remove ladder fuels under trees & mow grass to 4 inches tall or less. Ex 2. Use only Firewise Plant Materials plants for landscaping. Use these recommended plants to replace grass or other vegetation. | Ex. Remove limbs so branches do not hang below 6 feet above the ground, ideally not below 10 feet above the ground. |
Image to right: The Home Ignition Zone - Colorado State Forest Service
Defensible Space Linked with Neighbors
Neighbors can increase their homes’ chances of survival during a wildfire if they work together to create linked defensible space. Linked defensible space also creates safer conditions and better tactical opportunities for wildland firefighters. Defensible space projects that span ownership boundaries are also better candidates for grant funding due to their strategic value.
To understand the home hardening and defensible space actions you can take tailored to your planning unit, see the Nederland & Timberline Resident Action Plan.
Additionally, to help inspire wildfire resilience action with your neighbors, check out the following resources on Community Wildfire Leader Networks, from Fire Adapted Colorado (FACO), our CU graduate student collaborators, and current CWPP Implementation projects.
Image to right: Percent of Homes Vulnerable to Radiant Heat & Embers from Wildfires - Modified from Reducing Brushfire Risks from Victorian Auditor-General's Office.
Specific Neighborhood Recommendations
The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) process identified 14 planning units in the Nederland Fire Protection District (NFPD) and 5 planning units in Timberline Fire Protection District (TFPD). These "units" represent the most densely populated neighborhoods within the CWPP area, and help identify zones for building hyper-local mitigation capacity.
The map to the right provides an overview of the relative risk ratings of each planning unit (click and zoom to interact). On-the-ground assessments were combined with fire behavior and evacuation modeling to produce risk ratings relative of each other for each planning unit. These units were ranked to represent their levels of risk according to variables such as fuels, topography, structural flammability, availability of water for fire suppression, ingress/egress and navigational difficulties. Thirteen of the 19 units were ranked as extreme or high risk.
Map: Relative Wildfire Risk Ratings of Each Plan Units - The Ember Alliance.
For a short description of recommendations for reducing wildfire risk specific to each planning unit, scroll down to explore the map tour. While many recommendations are similar between planning units, each area has unique characteristics that may help residents prioritize actions. For example, neighborhoods where homes are more spread out may need to focus on all Home Ignition Zones (HIZs), while denser neighborhoods may need to focus on HIZ 1 and 2 while working with neighbors to develop linked defensible space .
Neighborhood recommendations have been developed as part of this CWPP process; they are not mandated by any agency.
Fourth of July
Relative Risk Rating: HIGH
Recommendations for Residents in Fourth of July
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property
· Defensible space highlights for Fourth of July: Fourth of July should focus on all Home Ignition Zones (HIZs). Remove trees in zone 1, keep grasses and other vegetation low in zone 2, and reduce the density of trees in zone 3. Regularly clear flammable material away from outbuildings and the side of homes.
· Home hardening highlights for Fourth of July: wood siding and wood fences should be replaced with fire-resistant materials, and hardscape added to HIZ 1. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Work with NFPD and Boulder County to thin trees along Fourth of July road, and consider widening to allow for smooth two-way travel.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family and any livestock that requires extra time to move. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County Office of Disaster Management) ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for Fourth of July community members.
Cardinal/Caribou
Relative Risk Rating: High
Recommendations for Residents in Cardinal/Caribou
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property. Some of your neighbors have participated in this program.
· Defensible space highlights for Cardinal/Caribou: defensible space is recommended for all homes, throughout all three Home Ignition Zones (HIZs). Cardinal/Caribou should focus on removing trees within zones 1 and 2, and reducing density of trees in zone 3. Vegetation should be managed and reduced around all structures on the property, including propane tanks, and cars and trailers that will not be moved in an emergency.
· Home hardening highlights for Cardinal/Caribou: wood siding and decking should be replaced. Hardscape should be added to HIZ 1 around structures, including propane tanks and sheds. Open areas below decks should be enclosed or screened to prevent the ingress of embers, and should be kept clean of flammable materials. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, slash removal, and the removal of flammable materials away from structures.
Beaver Creek
Relative Risk Rating: High
Recommendations for residents in Beaver Creek:
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible Space highlights for Beaver Creek: focus on Home Ignition Zones (HIZ) 1 and 2 (0-5ft and 5-30ft from home). Residents in Beaver Creek should focus on removing limbs overhanging roofs, removing conifers in direct contact with homes, and reducing density of trees surrounding zone 2 of homes on forested slopes.
· Home hardening highlights for Beaver Creek: wood siding, wood decks, and shake shingle roofs should be replaced or treated until able to be replaced. Wooden fences and decks should be replaced or treated until able to be replaced, and other flammable materials moved away from homes. Open areas below decks should be enclosed or screened to prevent the ingress of embers and should be kept clean of flammable materials. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Clear roadways . Remove trees, shrubs, and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire. This is especially important for narrow driveways and road segments.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family, sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities including grass/weed management, slash removal, and the removal of flammable materials away from structures.
Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
Eldora
Relative Risk Rating: Extreme
Recommendations for Residents in Eldora:
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible space highlights for Eldora: Eldora should focus on all Home Ignition Zones (HIZs). Remove trees in zone 1, keep grasses and other vegetation low in zone 2, and reduce the density of trees in zone 3. Heavily reduce vegetation between homes to prevent home-to-home ignitions, and regularly clear flammable material away from decks, fences, outbuildings, and the side of homes.
· Home hardening highlights for Eldora: wood roofs, shake-shingle siding and other exposed old-wood structures attached to homes such as decking and fencing should be replaced with fire-resistant materials as soon as possible. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· There are many challenges to creating a secondary egress route in this community. Work with NFPD, Boulder County, and your neighbors to determine whether Shelter-in-Place zones might be created where residents can safely gather in the event of a wildfire.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Where possible, add pullouts for emergency apparatus on driveways and private roads longer than 300 ft. Turnarounds should be constructed at the end of all driveways and dead end roads.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for Eldora community members.
Sundown
Relative Risk Rating: Moderate
Recommendations for Residents in Sundown:
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible space highlights for Sundown: Sundown should focus on Home Ignition Zones (HIZ) 2 and 3. Grasses and vegetation should be removed from zone 1 and should be kept low in zone 2. Reduce conifer density 5-100ft away from homes, and remove vegetation around propane tanks.
· Home hardening highlights for Sundown: wood siding and decking should be replaced, or treated until able to be replaced. Vegetation and other flammable materials should be cleared from under decks, and metal mesh installed to prevent embers from entering. Wooden fences attached to structures should be replaced with noncombustible materials, and hardscape added to zone 1 around structures. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Clear roadways . Remove trees, shrubs, and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire. This is especially important for narrow driveways and road segments.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family, and leave early if your evacuation route runs by the elementary school. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for community members.
Nederland
Relative Risk Rating: Extreme
Recommendations for Residents in Nederland
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partner s for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible space highlights for Nederland: Nederland should focus on Home Ignition Zones (HIZ) 1 and 2, removing overhanging limbs and trees directly in contact with homes, and reducing the density of trees and vegetation near structures (5-30ft). Remove wood pallets and other flammable material piled against homes.
· Home hardening highlights for Nederland: homes that still have wood roofs, siding, and decking should replace these for non-combustible materials, or treat them until able to replace them. Replace wooden fences or remove from contact with homes. Flammable materials and vegetation should be cleared from under decks, and metal mesh installed to prevent embers from entering. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Work with NFPD and Town of Nederland to add a secondary road through Nederland town center. This will help alleviate egress and evacuation congestion during peak visiting hours for the town of Nederland.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
South Nederland
Relative Risk Rating: High
Recommendations for Residents in South Nederland:
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible space highlights for South Nederland: South Nederland should focus on Home Ignition Zones (HIZ) 1 and 2. Prioritize removing overhanging limbs around structures, reducing density of conifers within 30ft of homes, and moving firewood, propane tanks, and other flammable materials away from structures. Grasses and vegetation should be removed from zone 1 and should be kept low in zone 2.
· Home hardening highlights for South Nederland: wood roofs, siding, and decking should be replaced, or treated until able to be replaced. Vegetation should be cleared from under decks, and metal mesh installed to prevent embers from entering. Wooden fences should be replaced with noncombustible materials, and hardscape added to zone 1 around structures. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family and any livestock that requires extra time to move. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for community members.
Peak to Peak
Relative Risk Rating: Moderate
Recommendations for Residents in Peak to Peak:
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible space highlights for Peak to Peak: Peak to Peak should focus on Home Ignition Zones (HIZ) 1 and 2, removing overhanging limbs and trees directly in contact with homes, and reducing the density of trees and vegetation near structures (5-30ft). Remove wood pallets and other flammable material piled against homes.
· Home hardening highlights for Peak to Peak: Homes that still have wood roofs, siding, and decking should replace these for non-combustible materials, or treat them until able to replace them. Replace wooden fences or remove from contact with homes. Flammable materials and vegetation should be cleared from under decks, and metal mesh installed to prevent embers from entering. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family and any livestock that requires extra time to move. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Clear roadways . Remove trees, shrubs, and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire. This is especially important for narrow driveways and road segments.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for community members.
Cold Springs
Relative Risk Rating: Extreme
Recommendations for Residents in Cold Springs
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible space highlights for Cold Springs: defensible space is recommended for all homes, throughout all three Home Ignition zones (HIZs). Cold Springs should focus on reducing density of trees in zone 3, and linking defensible space projects between properties. Grasses and other vegetation should be managed and reduced around all structures on the property, including around propane tanks. Firewood and other flammable material such as pallets should be moved at least 30ft away from homes.
· Home hardening highlights for Cold Springs: wood siding and decking should be replaced, or treated until able to be replaced. Hardscape should be added to HIZ 1 around structures, including propane tanks and sheds. Open areas below decks should be enclosed or screened to prevent the ingress of embers, and should be kept clean of flammable materials. All flammable materials should be removed from direct contact with homes and kept at least 30ft away from structures. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with NFPD and Boulder County to create a secondary egress route out of the community, running from Hummer Drive to Sherwood Road.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Where possible, add pullouts for emergency apparatus on driveways and private roads longer than 300 ft. Turnarounds should be constructed at the end of all driveways and dead-end roads.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family, sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, slash removal, and the removal of flammable materials away from structures.
West Ridge
Relative Risk Rating: Extreme
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible space highlights for West Ridge: West Ridge should focus on Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) 1. Remove overhanging limbs, and reduce conifer density 0-30ft from homes. Grasses and vegetation should be removed from zone 1 and should be kept low in zone 2. Remove vegetation around propane tanks and outbuilding structures.
· Home hardening highlights for West Ridge: Wood siding and decking should be replaced, or treated until able to be replaced. Vegetation and other flammable materials should be cleared from under decks, and metal mesh installed to prevent embers from entering. Wood and other flammable materials should be moved at least 50ft away from structures, and hardscape added to zone 1. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Clear driveways and roadways. Remove trees, shrubs, and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire. This is especially important for narrow driveways and road segments.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family, and any livestock that requires extra time to move. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for community members
Big Springs
Relative Risk Rating: High
Recommendations for Residents in Big Springs:
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property. Some of your neighbors have participated in this program.
· Defensible space highlights for big Springs: defensible space is recommended for all homes, throughout all three Home Ignition Zones (HIZs). Big Springs should focus on removing conifers in direct contact with homes, removing trees in zone 1 and 2, and reducing density of trees in zone 3, as well as reducing vegetation along driveways and roads.
· Home hardening highlights for Big Springs: wood siding and shake shingle roofs should be replaced. Wooden fences and decks should be replaced or treated until able to be replaced. Open areas below decks should be enclosed or screened to prevent the ingress of embers, and should be kept clean of flammable materials. Clean leaf and needle litter from roofs and gutters and away from foundations. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Coordinate with Town of Nederland and Boulder County to create a secondary egress route for the Big Springs neighborhood. Participate in the ongoing process for the Big Springs Egress Project .
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Clear roadways . Remove trees, shrubs, and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire. This is especially important for narrow driveways and road segments.
· Where possible, add pullouts for emergency apparatus on driveways and private roads longer than 300 ft. Turnarounds should be constructed at the end of all driveways and dead-end roads.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family, sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities including grass/weed management, slash removal, and the removal of flammable materials away from structures.
Bonanza
Relative Risk Rating: Moderate
Recommendations for Residents in Bonanza:
· Talk to your neighbors and other community members about becoming Wildfire Partners certified.
· Defensible space highlights for Bonanza: Bonanza should focus on reducing density of trees in Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) 3, as well as reducing vegetation along driveways and roads.
· Home hardening highlights for Bonanza: wood siding and decking should be replaced. Hardscape should be added to HIZ 1 around structures. Open areas below decks should be enclosed or screened to prevent the ingress of embers, and should be kept clean of flammable materials. All flammable materials, including firewood and old pallets, should be moved 30ft away from structures. Clean leaf and needle litter from roofs and gutters and away from foundations. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Clear roadways . Remove trees, shrubs, and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire. This is especially important for narrow driveways and road segments.
· Where possible, add pullouts for emergency apparatus on driveways and private roads longer than 300 ft. Turnarounds should be constructed at the end of all driveways and dead-end roads.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family, sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities including grass/weed management, slash removal, and the removal of flammable materials away from structures.
East Ridge
Relative Risk Rating: High
Recommendations for Residents in East Ridge:
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible space highlights for East Ridge: East Ridge should focus on Home Ignition zones (HIZ) 2 and 3, reducing density of trees 30ft-100ft from homes, and regularly clearing flammable material away from decks, fences, and the side of homes. Grasses and other vegetation should be kept low in zone 2.
· Home hardening highlights for East Ridge: wood siding and decking should be replaced, and flammable materials cleared away from homes. Hardscape should be added to HIZ 1 around structures, including propane tanks and sheds. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with NFPD, Boulder County, and the local HOA to thin trees along Summer Road and other main roads, and add turnarounds to important evacuation routes. Improving the road conditions will provide for safer ingress and egress for residents and firefighters during a wildfire event.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family and any livestock that requires extra time to move. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Where possible, add pullouts for emergency apparatus on driveways and private roads longer than 300 ft. Turnarounds should be constructed at the end of all driveways and dead-end roads.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for other NFPD community members.
Comforter Mountain
Relative Risk Rating: Moderate
Recommendations for Residents in Comforter Mountain:
· Talk to your neighbors and other community members about becoming Wildfire Partners certified.
· Defensible space highlights for Comforter Mountain: Comforter Mountain should focus on Home Ignition Zone (HIZ 1), adding hardscape and managing grass and other vegetation directly against structures. Grasses and other vegetation should be kept low in zone 2.
· Home hardening highlights for Comforter Mountain: wood siding and decking should be replaced. Hardscape should be added to HIZ 1 around structures, including propane tanks and sheds. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with NFPD and Boulder County to create a secondary egress route out of the community, or shelter-in-place zones. Roads should be widened to accommodate simultaneous inbound and outbound travel.
· Work with NFPD and Boulder County to thin trees along north edge of Ridge Road, and along Summer Road. Improving the road will provide for safer ingress and egress for residents and firefighters.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family and any livestock that requires extra time to move. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for other NFPD community members.
· Where possible, add pullouts for emergency apparatus on driveways and private roads longer than 300 ft. Turnarounds should be constructed at the end of all driveways and dead-end roads.
Tungsten Mountain
Relative Risk Rating: Moderate
Recommendations for Residents in Tungsten Mountain:
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible space highlights for Tungsten Mountain: Tungsten Mountain should focus on HIZ 1 and 2. Remove overhanging limbs, and reduce conifer density 5-30 ft from homes. Grasses and vegetation should be removed from zone 1 and should be kept low in zone 2. Remove vegetation around propane tanks and outbuilding structures.
· Home hardening highlights for Tungsten Mountain: cedar shake roofing, wood siding, and decking should be replaced, or treated until able to be replaced. Vegetation and other flammable materials should be cleared from under decks, and metal mesh installed to prevent embers from entering. Wooden fences attached to structures should be replaced with noncombustible materials, and hardscape added to zone 1 around structures. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with TFPD and local landowners to improve road conditions along CR 99 where it meets Coal Creek Canyon Dr, to allow for safer, smoother 2-way travel. Work with Reynolds Ranch to create an official secondary egress route for community members in the CR 99 area.
· Clear driveways and roadways. Remove trees, shrubs, and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire. This is especially important for narrow driveways and road segments.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family, and any livestock that requires extra time to move. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for community members.
Pinecliffe
Relative Risk Rating: Moderate
Recommendations for Residents in Pinecliffe:
· Talk to your neighbors and other community members to become Wildfire Partners certified.
· Defensible space highlights for Pinecliffe: Pinecliffe should focus on Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) 3, reducing density of trees 30-100ft away from structures. Grasses and vegetation should be kept low in zone 2.
· Home hardening highlights for Pinecliffe: hardscape should be implemented in zone 1. Vegetation should be cleared from under decks, and metal mesh installed to prevent embers from entering. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family and any livestock that requires extra time to move. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Clear roadways . Remove trees, shrubs, and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire. This is especially important for narrow driveways and road segments.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for community members.
Lazy Z
Relative Risk Rating: High
Recommendations for Residents in Lazy Z:
· Talk to your neighbors and other community members about becoming Wildfire Partners certified.
· Defensible space highlights for Lazy Z: Lazy Z should focus on Home Ignition Zones (HIZ) 1 and 2, removing vegetation directly around homes (0-5ft) and reducing the density of trees near structures (5-30ft). Reduce other vegetation, such as shrubs, and keep grasses low in zone 2.
· Home hardening highlights for Lazy Z: homes that still have wood siding and decking should replace these for non-combustible materials, or treat them until able to replace them. Flammable materials and vegetation should be cleared from under decks, and metal mesh installed to prevent embers from entering. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family and any livestock that requires extra time to move. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Clear roadways . Remove trees, shrubs, and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire. This is especially important for narrow driveways and road segments.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for community members.
Twin Sisters/Pine Glade
Relative Risk Rating: High
Recommendations for Residents in Twin Sisters/Pine Glade:
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible space highlights for Twin Sisters/Pine Glade: Twin Sisters/Pine Glades should focus on Home Ignition Zones (HIZ) 1 and 2. Remove overhanging limbs, and reduce conifer density 5-30 ft from homes. Grasses and vegetation should be removed from zone 1 and should be kept low in zone 2. Remove vegetation around propane tanks and outbuilding structures.
· Home hardening highlights for Twin Sisters/Pine Glade: cedar shake roofing, wood siding, and decking should be replaced, or treated until able to be replaced. Vegetation and other flammable materials should be cleared from under decks, and metal mesh installed to prevent embers from entering. Wood and other flammable materials should be moved at least 50ft away from structures. Wooden fences attached to structures should be replaced with noncombustible materials, and hardscape added to zone 1. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with TFPD and Boulder County to create a secondary egress route for residents along Twin Sisters Road. Connecting Twin Sisters Road to Lakeshore Drive would provide a secondary egress route and could ease evacuations in this area.
· Clear driveways and roadways . Remove trees, shrubs, and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire. This is especially important for narrow driveways and road segments.
· Replace non-native conifers and other flammable vegetation with drought tolerant, fire-adapted local species. See CSU's FireWise Plant Materials list for more information.
· Add reflective, non-combustible address signs to all driveways and homes. NFPD is working to secure local suppliers for reflective addressing, but they can also be purchased inexpensively online at safetysign.com . Place address signs on non-combustible posts.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family, and any livestock that requires extra time to move. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for community members.
Porter Ranch
Relative Risk Rating: High
Recommendations for Residents in Porter Ranch:
· Contact Boulder County Wildfire Partners for a free home assessment and recommendations tailored to your individual property.
· Defensible space highlights for Porter Ranch: Porter Ranch should focus on Home Ignition Zones (HIZ) 1 and 2. Removing overhanging limbs around structures, reducing density of conifers within 30ft of homes, and moving firewood, propane tanks, and other flammable materials away from structures. Grasses and vegetation should be removed from zone 1 and should be kept low in zone 2.
· Home hardening highlights for Porter Ranch: wood roofs, siding, and decking should be replaced, or treated until able to be replaced. Vegetation should be cleared from under decks, and metal mesh installed to prevent embers from entering. Wooden fences should be replaced with noncombustible materials, and hardscape added to zone 1 around structures. For general home hardening and defensible space recommendations, see the CSFS HIZ guidebook.
· Work with NFPD and Town of Nederland to create a secondary egress route east by improving Magnolia road and its connection to boulder canyon road.
· Work with neighbors to create linked defensible space . Projects that span multiple properties are more effective at reducing wildfire risk. Contractor costs can sometimes be shared among homeowners, reducing costs for everyone involved.
· Develop an evacuation plan for your family and any livestock that requires extra time to move. Sign up for emergency notifications from Boulder County ODM, and coordinate with neighbors who may need additional support during an emergency.
· Clear roadways . Remove trees, shrubs, and tall grasses along private roads and driveways to improve evacuation safety and firefighter access during a wildfire. This is especially important for narrow driveways and road segments.
· Organize community action around educating neighbors and implementing defensible space and home hardening activities, including grass/weed management, and slash removal. Organize tours of properties with exemplary defensible space and home hardening for community members.
Putting the Plan Into Action
The following recommendations have come out of a unique process that incorporated both community priorities and core team expertise (see Community and Partner Engagement Process tab for more information).
These recommendations are organized as priority actions to better create Fire Adapted Communities, and Safe & Effective Wildfire Response for the whole CWPP area; and priority actions to support Resilient Landscapes across (1) the whole CWPP area, and for (2) specific areas.
If you would like to learn more about upcoming projects, visit:
Image: Pile Burning in Clear Creek County - Northern Colorado Fireshed
Fire Adapted Communities Priority Actions
1. Communication and Outreach Campaigns
A robust engagement program, that includes events, messaging, and engagement opportunities tailored to various communities in the area and through multiple mediums (online, in print, or in person) can build community capacity and create a more wildfire-informed public. Community members largely recommended campaigns centered around:
- Home hardening and defensible space
- Evacuation and emergency preparedness planning
- Forest and fire ecology
- Renter and new resident education
- Smoke readiness & communications
See Section 4a of the full CWPP for more detailed potential plans for communication and engagement.
Image: Forest Field Site Visit - The Boulder Watershed Collective
2. Increased Fire Ban Signage
The Peak to Peak area receives tourists from all across the country, who may not be informed about wildfire risk or fire bans. Campfires and other ignition sources from these populations pose a great risk to the community. Fire ban signs placed at each entrance into the Town of Nederland (and other critical locations), and updated to current conditions, can help prevent unwanted ignitions from visitors.
See section 4a of the full CWPP for details regarding specific strategies for increased fire ban signage.
Image: Fire Ban sign - Wikimedia Commons
3. Create a Community Wildfire Network
Wildfire Community Leader Programs (CLPs) or Community Networks are a coalition of community members, local non-profits, and other local organizations that share a common goal of mitigating the impacts of wildfire. These networks are dedicated to improving community preparedness, tackling hyper-local obstacles to home and landscape mitigation, and educating residents about wildfire preparedness actions, organized at the neighborhood scale.
See section 4a of the full CWPP for a list of ways that community members envisioned a community leader program being utilized.
Image: Forest Field Trip - The Boulder Watershed Collective
Other Fire Adapted Communities Priority Actions
In addition to these three top priority actions, here is a list of some other top Fire Adapted Communities priority actions within the CWPP.
To see the full list of Fire Adapted Communities priority actions, visit the full CWPP document, section 4a .
Images to right: Sourced from The Ember Alliance and The Boulder Watershed Collective
Safe & Effective Wildfire Response Priority Actions
1. Roadside Fuel Reduction on Evacuation Routes & Improvements to Ingress/Egress Routes
Many neighborhoods throughout the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) project area have only a single access road that is not wide enough for two-way travel and are crowded by overly dense conifer trees. In places where road conditions impact singular or secondary egress routes, it is recommended that road conditions be improved through fuels reduction, road expansion and/or pullouts to allow for smooth and effective evacuations and wildfire response. Each planning unit is recommended to have the following egress improvements:
- Big Springs (secondary egress)
- Bonanza (improved egress)
- Cold Springs (secondary egress)
- Comforter Mountain (secondary egress)
- East Ridge (improved egress)
- Eldora (improved egress)
- Fourth of July (improved egress)
- Lazy Z (secondary egress)
- Nederland (second bridge on Snyder and First)
- Pinecliffe (improved egress)
- Porter Ranch (secondary egress)
- Tungsten Mountain (improved egress, secondary egress)
- Twin Sisters/Pine Glades (secondary egress)
See section 4b of the full CWPP for further discussion of how to prioritize roadways for mitigation.
Image: Magnolia Road - The Ember Alliance
2. Improve and Diversify Emergency Communication System
Not all residents and community members in the planning area have easy access to the internet and service. Tourists, including hikers, backpackers, campers, and others, also may not have access to internet and cell-based notification systems. It is important, especially during the crucial period at the start of a wildfire, to have a quick, widespread system for disseminating emergency notifications that could potentially save lives. Redundancy in evacuation and emergency notifications is necessary, as it is possible for any one method to fail to reach residents for a variety of reasons.
Investment in other notification systems that can reach people out of internet or cellular range is therefore recommended. Options include HAM radio networks, weather radios, alert systems run through landlines, call-in hotlines, local radio announcements, and others.
See section 4b of the full CWPP for further discussion on how to accomplish this recommendation.
Image: HAM Radio - iStock
3. Increase Joint Training Between Local Emergency Response Agencies
Wildfires can quickly grow beyond a single department's ability to control, and having additional resources during the initial stages of a fire's growth can be critical to successful fire management. Nederland and Timberline Fire Protection Districts already have mutual aid agreements in place, but there are opportunities to increase the number of joint trainings to improve interdepartmental coordination.
See section 4b of the full CWPP for further discussion on how to accomplish this recommendation.
Image: Emergency Training - Nederland Fire Protection District
Other Safe & Effective Wildfire Response Priority Actions
In addition to the three top priority actions above, here is a list of some other Safe & Effective Response priority actions identified in the CWPP. To see the full list of Safe & Effective Response priority actions and responsible parties for these actions, visit the full CWPP document, section 4b .
Images: Sourced from The Boulder Watershed Collective & Canva Open Source Images
Resilient Landscapes Priority Actions
Whole CWPP Area Recommendations
1. Cross-boundary Forest Management
Forest management, including linked defensible space on private land, and across local, state, and federal agency owned land can benefit in many ways from pooling resources for cross-boundary management. This includes significant wildfire risk reduction benefits, potential reduced costs for services when scaled up to multiple properties, and ecological benefits (e.g. landscape scale management in alignment with elk migration routes) - where mitigation treatments can more effectively follow landscape contours and natural ecosystem boundaries (Schulte et al., 2008).
Local partner organizations, like the Boulder Watershed Collective (BWC), can play a role in coordinating and helping to secure funding across landowner parcels, and in forming agency-landowner and agency-agency partnerships (e.g. Good Neighbor Authority ).
Image: Forest drone footage, Molly Seeling
2. Prioritize and Normalize Prescribed Fire
There are many benefits to using prescribed fire as a forest management tool. These include improved wildlife habitat to create a diverse mosaic of habitat, reducing wildfire hazards, reducing forest density and removing surface fuels, increasing meadow opening sizes and frequencies, regenerating fire-dependent herbs/forbs/shrubs and increases species diversity. “Prescribed fire is an important element of restoration in Colorado’s Front Range because burning influences nutrient cycling and cues germination or resprouting of some fire-adapted understory plant species. Without this burning, needle litter and wood builds up on the forest floor, creating high levels of surface fuels” (USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2018).
Image: Aftermath of 2021 Bootleg Fire in OR - Steve Rondeau Director of Klamath Tribes Natural Resources
3. Tailored Post-fire Recovery Plans
Wildfire is inevitable in this landscape, and can have damaging impacts on landscapes, water quality, and the built environment. To plan for these possibilities and mitigate their impacts, some CWPP core team members are participating in the development of the a Wildfire Ready Watersheds planning process for the St. Vrain Basin. Additionally, wildfire insurance is an important part of post-fire recovery where fire has impacted structures and human communities. However, wildfire-specific insurance is becoming more inaccessible for WUI communities as the impacts of wildfire grow year after year. Resources to help residents with their wildfire insurance plans include United Policy Holders and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies ( DORA ). Further work should be done to improve insurance accessibility and affordability for homeowners.
Image: Wetland, Boulder Watershed Collective
Resilient Landscapes Priority Actions
Location Specific Recommendations
In addition to identifying priority actions for resilient landscapes across the whole Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) area (above), the core team also developed place-specific priorities for creating resilient landscapes. Explore the map and section below to see all place specific projects in this CWPP.
Image: Prioritized Treatment Recommendations for Fuels Treatments & Resilient Landscapes - The Ember Alliance for the full CWPP Process
Project areas were identified by all of the following characteristics and inputs:
- Potential fire behavior
- Home exposure
- Infrastructure and values (commonly recommended community values and Values at Risk)
- Evacuation hazards
- Previous fuel treatments and planned work
- Potential funding sources
- The location of potential operational delineations (PODS) - topographic areas bounded by features suitable for fire control (e.g. ridgetops and roads) that can be used for proactive wildfire decision making, tactical operations during wildfire events, management units for proactive ecological restoration, and cross-boundary and collaborative land and fire management planning (Thompson, et al., 2022).
- Other feasibility considerations
Note: These resilient landscape priorities are project focus areas and all need further community engagement, planning, and project development in order to define on-the-ground work. This includes a host of strategies that will be considered - where, how, (e.g. mechanical or manual), when, and who will implement, maintain, and monitor these projects (see the Monitoring Handbook for monitoring guidelines and best practices that are recommended for all projects). Other considerations include: wildlife habitat, riparian and wetland areas, and water quality.
If you would like to learn more about upcoming projects, visit:
Contact
If you have questions, comments, or would like to get involved or collaborate, please reach out to Julien Blundell at julien@boulderwatershedcollective.org .
If you would like to learn more about current CWPP projects, visit:
