The lefthand watershed oversight group, located in boulder county, colorado, will expand existing watershed management planning within in the ST

The Lefthand Watershed Oversight Group received a $299,196 Cooperative Watershed Management Program grant from the Bureau of Reclamation to expand existing watershed management planning within the St. Vrain watershed in Colorado. The group will develop a wildfire risk assessment, conduct a watershed-scale analysis, and identify, prioritize, and develop two to three key river restoration projects that complement ongoing forest mitigation efforts. The project aims to address the impacts of climate change, including decreased and earlier snowmelt, leading to shifts in peak flows and lower stream flows later in the year, as well as increased fire frequency and intensity. Stakeholders involved in the project include local, state, and federal agencies, nonprofits, landowners, recreation interests, and agricultural land users.

Vrain watershed. Climate change has led to decreased and earlier snow melt in the colorado rockies, resulting in a shift of peak high flows to earlier in the year and lower stream flows later in the year. In addition to effects on water supplies, climate change is projected to lead to greater fire frequency and intensity, including in areas that have historically had infrequent fire. In 2021, the marshall fire started in the grasslands and became an urban house-to-house fire, resulting in over $2 billion in damages with 1,084 structures lost. The group will develop a wildfire risk assessment, lead a watershed scale analysis and identify, prioritize, and develop two to three key river restoration projects that are complementary to ongoing forest mitigation projects. Stakeholders involved in the group include local, state, and federal agencies, nonprofits, landowners, recreation interests, and agricultural land users.