The challenges facing Northern Colorado’s forests and watersheds are larger than any single organization can solve alone. Recognizing this, Peaks to People Water Fund launched the Big Thompson Watershed Health Partnership (BTWHP) in late 2022 to provide the collaboration and shared strategy required to meaningfully reduce wildfire risk and strengthen watershed resilience.

With support from the Fireshed Fund through the Larimer County Community Mitigation Grant Program, the Soldier Canyon community is taking big steps to reduce wildfire risk.

At The Fireshed Fund, we’re proud to see our funding at work strengthening local wildfire resilience across Larimer County.  

Recently, three responders from Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department (RCVFD) wrapped up an S-212 Chainsaw Course lead by The Ember Alliance. The training helped bring together participants from Glacier View, Poudre Canyon, and Rist Canyon volunteer fire departments. 

Since 2023, The Northern Colorado Fireshed Fund, in partnership with the National Forest Foundation, has awarded over $2.3 million to support community-led wildfire resiliency work in landscapes across Northern Colorado. In the latest grant cycle, the Fireshed Fund awarded over $1,045,000 to community groups to make our forests more resilient, our communities safer, and keep our water supplies reliable.

The recent announcement of the 2024 cycle Community Mitigation Grant awards offer a good time to showcase the bona fide energy and community spirit contributing to resilience within our communities. After a careful evaluation process a total of 19 deserving recipient communities in Larimer County were awarded varying amounts distributed from a total funding pool of $100,000.