The High Desert and Mancos Conservation Districts are partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to obtain federal grant funds for landowners to create healthy forests on their land with a focus on conservation.
There is a limited time to receive forest thinning funds. All work should be completed in 2019 and with NRCS funds to be reimbursed to the landowner after project completion. This NRCS grant focuses on creating and carrying out a plan for resilient and sustainable forested land in an effort to reduce wildfire impacts by clearing out excess fuel, reduce pest/beetle infestations, and enhance habitats for wildlife. The focus for this grant funding includes landowners with land located along the border of the forest service in Montezuma County.
The targeted landscape for private forest projects is in the transition from piñon-juniper woodlands to ponderosa pine forest up to the U.S. Forest Service border including the area east of Colorado Highway 184 and north of U.S. Highway 160 between County Road S and County Road 44 (Echo Basin Road).
An informal meeting will be held Aug. 16 from 6-7 p.m. at Mancos Conservation District, 604 Bauer Ave., Mancos). Rrepresentatives from High Desert and Mancos Conservation Districts and FireWise of Southwest Colorado will be on hand to answer any questions.
Landowners may fill out the online Interest Form before Aug. 19. It is at https://tinyurl.com/ForestGrantFunds.
Technical and financial support for work may still be available through FireWise of Southwest Colorado and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
