Big Thompson Watershed
The Big Thompson Watershed spans a mix of public and private lands, making collaboration essential for effective wildfire mitigation. Partners organize as the Big Thompson Watershed Health Partnership (BTWHP) to coordinate resources and plan forest treatments across the watershed. Because wildfire doesn’t stop at property lines, this cross-boundary approach helps align efforts across landowners, agencies, and partnerships to reduce risk and improve forest and watershed health. Browse key forestry projects in the watershed below.
Projects
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![Scenic view of a mountain range with peaks, some snow patches, and forested slopes under a clear blue sky.]()
Gateway to the Rockies Community Wildfire Defense Project
A roughly $9.8 million federally funded initiative running from 2026–2031 to reduce wildfire risk and strengthen resilience in Estes Park and the Big Thompson Canyon through large-scale forest mitigation, community preparedness, and watershed protection efforts.
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![Big Thompson Watershed GIS Map]()
Big Thompson Wildfire Ready Action Plan
This multi-partner, grant-funded planning effort developed a science-based roadmap—through watershed-scale modeling and stakeholder engagement—to identify and prioritize over 100 wildfire mitigation and resilience projects across the Big Thompson watershed to reduce post-fire flooding, erosion, and water contamination risks.
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![A group of five people gathered around a large map on a table, discussing and pointing at it in an indoor setting, likely a workshop or classroom.]()
Storm Mountain Forestry & Community Engagement
Description here
News from the Big Thompson Watershed
Contact
Big Thompson Watershed Coalition
Contact: Will Davis, will.davis@bigthompson.co
Big Thompson Watershed Health Partnership
Contact: Julie Dubin, julie@peakstopeople.org
Estes Valley Watershed Coalition
Contact: Wilynn Formeller, Development & Program Coordinator, at Wilynn.Formeller@evwatershed.org
Rocky Mountain National Park
Contact: Koren Nydick, Chief of Resource Stewardship, koren_nydick@nps.gov
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee Grasslands
Contact: Fire Information, ARPFireInfo@usda.gov