The cooperator will 1) develop, conduct research on, transfer, promote, and monitor restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments to reduce the risk of severe wildfires to vulnerable…

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R3-Southwestern Region awarded Colorado State University $2.2 million on August 25, 2026, under the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention program (CFDA 10.694) to develop, conduct research on, and transfer restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments that reduce wildfire risk to vulnerable communities and improve forest health in dry forest and woodland ecosystems across the Interior West.

Colorado State University's Sponsored Programs division will synthesize and adapt scientific findings to implement restoration-based treatments at landscape scale using an adaptive management framework; translate and transfer scientific and interdisciplinary knowledge about hazardous fuel reduction to affected entities; assist affected entities in designing adaptive management approaches including monitoring for wildfire risk reduction; and deliver peer-reviewed annual reports. Work is performed in Colorado with a period of performance through September 30, 2028. The award is structured as a Project Grant, an assistance type that funds non-competitive awards to eligible institutes under this program for ecological restoration and wildfire treatment activities across specified states. Annual work plans require approval by the Forest Service in consultation with the Department of Interior.

The cooperator will 1) develop, conduct research on, transfer, promote, and monitor restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments to reduce the risk of severe wildfires to vulnerable communities and improve the health of dry forest and woodland ecosystems in the interior west; 2) synthesize and adapt scientific findings from conventional research to implement restoration-based hazardous fuel reduction treatments on a landscape scale using a more modern and efficient adaptive management framework; 3) translate for and transfer to affected entities any scientific and interdisciplinary knowledge about hazardous fuel reduction treatments; 4) assist affected entities with the design of adaptive management approaches (including monitoring) for the implementation of reducing wildfire risk; and 5) provide peer-reviewed annual reports.