Coalition Receives Grant to Support Outreach

MESA COUNTY-

Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition (TRWC) was recently awarded an Opportunity Fund Grant from Fire Adapted Colorado to help launch the “Make Some Noise” outreach program.

Through this program, when TRWC partner agencies are conducting wildfire fuels reduction, TRWC will work to connect the surrounding neighborhoods with information about the project and resources to support them in reducing the risk of wildfire on their own properties.

Fire Adapted Colorado Communications and Operations Specialist Cindy Howard said, “Through the generous support of the Argosy Foundation as well as a successful September Wildland Fire Conference that was held in Grand Junction, we were able to offer our Wildfire Resilience Opportunity Fund Awards to nine of Fire Adapted Colorado’s member organizations. This seed funding enables those organizations who lead wildfire resilience in their communities, to act on the passion and needs that they understand, for projects that are hard to fund.”

As part of the $17,810 of total awards given by Fire Adapted Colorado to nine agencies, the $2,660 grant for TRWC will help provide initial supplies to do that outreach including signage for projects, neighborhood outreach materials, and online resources for residents. TRWC partner agencies will provide $13,781 in in-kind and cash match to the Opportunity Fund Grant.

Each fuel reduction project area will be different; some may bring awareness of wildfire risk to an area, others may provide cooperative green waste removal, and some may have volunteer opportunities. With the initial outreach materials and online resources TRWC will be able to connect neighbors with education and resources about how they can help make Mesa County a fire adapted community.

For more information contact Ellis Thompson-Ellis, TRWC Co-Chair, at 970-549-5837.

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Riverfront Collaborative Mitigation Projects Beginning Spring 2022

Update: 5/17/2023 SWIFT Crews will continue working over the next couple of weeks in the area of Connected Lakes to complete this grant. If you live in the area expect to hear and see crews with chainsaws and chippers. MESA COUNTY

Through the collaboration of Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition, local agencies are teaming up to tackle wildfire fuels reduction along the river in Grand Junction. Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently received a Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program grant (CoSWAP) to conduct wildfire fuel reduction along the riverfront.

Working together with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado State Forest Service, the City of Grand Junction, the State Wildland Inmate Fire Team, and private landowners, nearly 62 acres will be treated across land ownership boundaries. It is estimated that these projects will protect approximately 340 homes, and 21 businesses.

The project will have four main areas including land within and adjoining Connected Lakes State Park, Letha Jean State Wildlife Area, and Walter Walker State Wildlife Area. Work will begin in the area of Indian Wash, and it is expected that crews will work throughout the spring and in the fall on the different project areas.

For more information on these projects, contact Pete Firmin at Pete.Firmin@state.co.us.

Donations From Alpine Bank, Western Colorado Community Foundation Support Wildfire Resiliency

MESA COUNTY-

The Alpine Bank Environmental Fund recently made a generous $5,000 donation to match the $5,000 donated by Western Colorado Community Foundation last year. With this seed money, Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition is now eligible to apply for grants that may require match or reimbursement. Most commonly, these grants are related to wildfire fuel reduction projects, but can also work to build capacity or purchase equipment to help build a wildfire adapted community.

Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition co-chair Ellis Thompson-Ellis said , “With this seed funding the Wildfire Coalition will strive to have monies continually reimbursed by grants so these funds can be used again and again.” Initially the Coalition will look to use the funds to support fuels reduction projects in high-risk areas of Mesa County.

Tawni Kelly, Community Outreach Director for Alpine Bank said, “Alpine Bank is thrilled to be able to support such an important effort here in our local community and we hope that this small contribution will help to provide some additional resources towards the critical work already being done by Two Rivers Wildlife Coalition.”

Emily Orbanek, Programs Manager for Western Colorado Community Foundation said, “Our Community Foundation is pleased to support the necessary work of Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition. The Coalition’s work is urgent as western Colorado grapples with more frequent and more destructive wildfires. By working in collaboration across the spectrum of land managers, TRWC is better equipped to navigate the next fire season.”

Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition is a collaborative non-profit focused on protecting Mesa County communities and natural resources by bolstering wildfire preparedness mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. With over 15 federal, state, local, non-profit, and private agencies working together, the group looks forward to completing more mitigation and education projects in the area in the coming year.

For more information contact the coalition at TwoRiversWildfireCoalition@gmail.com or call 970-697-7052.

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