Congressionally directed funding to reduce wildfire risk, treating approximately 100 acres of non-federal lands within the wildland urban interface to reduce hazardous fuels along a critical…

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R2-Rocky Mountain Region awarded $500,000 to West Region Wildfire Council on July 23, 2026, under the FY26 Community Project Funds-Congressionally Directed Spending program (CFDA 10.741) to treat approximately 100 acres of non-federal lands within the wildland urban interface and reduce hazardous fuels along a critical evacuation route for the community of Ouray, Colorado.

The award funds congressionally designated wildfire risk reduction work performed in Colorado. The period of performance runs through April 29, 2031. West Region Wildfire Council, a non-profit organization focused on wildfire preparedness and mitigation in western Colorado, will lead the fuels treatment activities. The organization's prior federal grants have supported wildfire risk assessments, defensible space creation, community fuelbreak establishment, forest treatment for ecological resiliency, and public education. Colorado State Forest Service and Colorado State University have served as key partners in West Region Wildfire Council's past mitigation work.

Congressionally directed funding to reduce wildfire risk, treating approximately 100 acres of non-federal lands within the wildland urban interface to reduce hazardous fuels along a critical evacuation route for the community of ouray, colorado.