Estes Valley Watershed Coalition

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED FUNDING TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK AND IMPROVE EMERGENCY ACCESS WITHIN THE ESTES VALLEY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT. TREATMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ROADSIDE THINNING TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY INGRESS/EGRESS ALONG PRIORITY ROUTES IDENTIFIED IN THE ESTES VALLEY COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN AND DEFENSIBLE SPACE TREATMENTS AROUND PARTICIPATING HOMES, FOCUSING ON HOME IGNITION ZONES WITHIN THE FIRST 100 FEET FROM THE STRUCTURE EXTENDING OUT UP TO 1 ACRE.

THE ESTES VALLEY WATERSHED COALITION WILL CONSTRUCT A SIMULATED BEAVER STRUCTURE ON FISH CREEK TO RECONNECT THE RIVER TO THE FLOODPLAIN JUST OUTSIDE OF ESTES PARK, COLORADO. EXTENSIVE FLOODING IN 2013 SCOURED THE CHANNEL AND DISCONNECTED FISH CREEK FROM THE FLOODPLAIN. THE COALITION WILL BUILD THE SIMULATED BEAVER STRUCTURE DOWNSTREAM FROM A SIMILAR STRUCTURE BUILT IN 2018, IN AN AREA THAT WAS A HISTORIC BEAVER MEADOW. THE PROJECT WILL MITIGATE FLOOD AND WILDFIRE RISK, REDUCE EROSION, IMPROVE HABITAT, AND INCREASE OVERALL ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE OF THE WATERSHED. THE PROJECT AREA AND NEED FOR FLOODPLAIN RESTORATION ARE IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY IN THE FISH CREEK CORRIDOR PLAN FOR RESILIENCY. THE PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY THE TOWN OF ESTES PARK, COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE NORTHERN WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS.