[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6709681,"mediaKeyId","5070900-8adc186bcd672c8770652c2394a13433","parentId",5070900,"title","Council explores using homeowner mitigation as grant match and a statewide match clearinghouse idea","audioSeconds",344,"startMs",1326000,"endMs",1670000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070900-8adc186bcd672c8770652c2394a13433&start=1326&end=1670","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070900-8adc186bcd672c8770652c2394a13433/thumbnail_1326000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6709681/Colorado/Council-explores-using-homeowner-mitigation-as-grant-match-and-a-statewide-match-clearinghouse-idea","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6709681-7f23f4ffeffa482617d3658acedcf0c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170306&Signature=Z1822LUKlNyZrmyyXTYw45MnToWoljxZtt5cW9qMuqMXfvgBpMFBfet8PR9Zupjo3u3g8LqJdHC~nKwnYafh3nqKRAg~HYQKmOeT4-ki6KBhwfZ3nfT9Q4POC3tObuRwf2nIyq1Rg40qQeGrYwkwFnTQKWA3xjR-R-szq0tR6HdMd1swH1MXF6yD87AIY~Tke1q-hcvY3IdP05cuDLwuOINcPB0Ylv9FOSDk2jkzKjTI2xcPiy9wRdoBytxqvWySh2Wp-Reg1YfGzXw19UIxj2cu9cjR23k4sHn47aSCaBiZ3e6idgRD8INLZBgUbpUzhSJBLn4fyh9fLvN~HOjYow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Department of Personnel & Administration","date","2025-06-24T21:23:52.457Z","article","At the Dec. 13 legislative committee meeting, council members reviewed opportunities for homeowner mitigation and volunteer labor to serve as match for federal and state grants.

Commissioner Jody Shab McNally raised the topic after noting that many smaller organizations and communities struggle to find matching dollars required by grant programs. She described examples such as adjacent private land and state wildlife areas where volunteer hours or local investments might be leveraged to satisfy match requirements for federal grants.

Members discussed existing examples where in‑kind contributions have been used for matching purposes. One participant referenced broadband grant work where in‑kind contributions were credited toward matching requirements. Members suggested that the council’s Leveraging Resources Committee could examine whether a statewide match clearinghouse or database would simplify tracking cash and in‑kind investments and help smaller jurisdictions qualify for grants.

Courtney and other members suggested the council could influence state-level match policies to be more flexible (for example, allowing more in‑kind contributions) though participants recognized the council cannot directly change federal funding rules. The committee agreed to flag the idea for the Leveraging Resources Committee to explore and to bring back practical approaches and precedents for how matches are documented and credited.

No formal policy was adopted; members recorded the proposal for additional study.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Colorado Forest Health Council, Legislative Committee, December 13, 2024","oneSentenceSummary","Members discussed whether homeowner mitigation and volunteer efforts could qualify as in‑kind match for federal and state grants and proposed a clearinghouse or database to track in‑kind and cash investments to help small communities meet match requirements.","taxTitle","Department of Personnel & Administration, State Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Colorado","taxId",27552,"location","Colorado","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6709688,"Council hears return-on-investment figures and cheaper post-fire treatment options, including contour felling",502,428000,930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070900-8adc186bcd672c8770652c2394a13433&start=428&end=930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070900-8adc186bcd672c8770652c2394a13433/thumbnail_428000.jpg","/articles/6709688/Colorado/Council-hears-return-on-investment-figures-and-cheaper-post-fire-treatment-options-including-contour-felling","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6709688-39001bb4a2ef55c0309cb7a54b211292/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170306&Signature=NilvUjbBqHJ-AUuQJCuenPCg5nQh~e4fApCvCuSD4SRgEy60~qHlw35RBWD1rIHEq0dRLUl4etIQ222GYk3vDx7bTNZFXsqDfho~zclr4WT1U4mrRqeF4zFUSf5alMIIDjS1qTbBPW1DsjsocvWHt-SpyLKbW9pDFoCtX5FWmkOG~mmos4qoWTXPjr1kHX5KFLGh8Iw5isMgRNFtyJsSQ0idcb0eosrBsvfcQminESd32QLxUbPeYgKOk9JoXbRpbATKG9idDn6hCvYZQ0orgvGHgMyHMBnd5XIJXNKj2LinGMNZULy-JCVTlJHxoPkx5Ct4Dw8W1~kn8MKXGrMS3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members discussed costs of post-fire recovery and potential lower-cost treatment alternatives at the Dec. 13 legislative committee meeting.

Commissioner Jody Shab McNally summarized studies the group has used to make the economic case for proactive treatments, including a climate resilience report citing an estimated $13 in taxpayer savings for every $1 invested in wildfire recovery avoided, and a Denver-area example where a $33 million investment yielded an estimated $240 million return. She said these figures help attract attention but can prompt debate about methodology.

Mark Morgan, who participates on industry and regional forestry efforts, told the council there are lower-cost alternatives to helicopter mulching for post-fire stabilization. “One of the classic ones is contour felling. If you've got dead timber all over a slope ... you can contour fell those trees, lay them crosswise to the slope, and they do a great deal to stabilize soil,” Morgan said. He described modern steep-ground harvesters as widely available in Colorado and estimated that contour felling can cost roughly half of helicopter mulching.

Members noted mulching after fire can cost about $5,000 per acre and that the effectiveness and cost vary by context; participants said mulching is sometimes used despite questions about cost-effectiveness. Council members agreed to capture these alternatives and economic points for future messaging to legislators and partners.

No formal action was taken; members directed staff to record the resource and outreach suggestions for future committee materials.","Members cited studies showing high returns on preventive treatments and discussed lower-cost post-fire stabilization methods such as contour felling and use of steep-ground harvesters as alternatives to costly helicopter mulching.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6709693,"Panel: Wildfire Ready Watersheds has sustainable funding, council told; state budget constraints limit new spending",919,261000,1180000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070900-8adc186bcd672c8770652c2394a13433&start=261&end=1180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070900-8adc186bcd672c8770652c2394a13433/thumbnail_261000.jpg","/articles/6709693/Colorado/Panel-Wildfire-Ready-Watersheds-has-sustainable-funding-council-told-state-budget-constraints-limit-new-spending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6709693-dd92ae68bc54d08542f970eb1d149f89/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170306&Signature=MlgBZkZnnRbsWCvYJsDymjTAjczx4ahFMofEfaNSema~qGcdRrjr52so2TB0HpHZkZ96JcGLARBBn~7G6k6zhExS~mDeDzM2BpflAX5gu~Gbm2i-fp~U0B2tbjQjjlR~9Fn~1z~wId9XxCHHH9KzumWLkfIGtiebDu0~AVFwy8eAJ6e30QIDLL1pr6oCS5Cg4w4bJPtgBbBoEsvasx66hwJkgAFLttpEZ-F0O1Jar0SbMvGULKQZNi~mQhyT3E0X~wbzD~jxz2wUreSVr3zLfwWz0gvryDsjNARWBHIBXsLlA3Uvb3KIJDUplvhbSv3ElOuSXmiz5w0gVII0efonvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Dec. 13 meeting of the Colorado Forest Health Council’s legislative committee, members were told that the Wildfire Ready Watersheds program receives sustainable funding through the Colorado Water Plan grant and that the program does not currently need additional state funding.

The council discussed whether state policy could create low-cost opportunities to support forest implementation work while officials await results of broader biomass and county studies expected in 2025.

“Allison Arch said she had contacted Chris Sturm at the Colorado Water Conservation Board and relayed that ‘the program has sustainable funding and does not need additional funding,’” Chair Larimer County Commissioner Jody Shab McNally said, reading Arch’s report to the group. Council members noted links between Wildfire Ready Watersheds and the Colorado Watershed Restoration Program and said the two efforts have partnered to direct forest implementation funding to areas preparing Wildfire Ready Watersheds action plans.

A council staff member who identified herself as Daphne cautioned that state budget constraints would limit the ability to stand up new programs. “With a $1,000,000,000 deficit in the budget this year, there just is absolutely no spare cash or no spare dollars, to, I think, stand up new programs or even expand existing ones,” Daphne said. She advised that presentations and data that build the case for investment are appropriate but that actual new general-fund appropriations are unlikely without TABOR-exempt cash funds or other dedicated sources.

Members discussed using existing forums to keep the message about return on investment alive for new legislators and committees of reference. Daphne said targeted distribution of the council’s annual report to legislators serving on relevant committees — for example, the wildfire matters review committee or agriculture, water and natural resources committees — could be an efficient way to reach policymakers. She also noted that the state’s Smart Act presentations in January offer an opportunity for state agencies to brief committees of reference and that the state forest service might appear in the DNR Smart Act slot.

Council members agreed on continued outreach and message-building rather than immediate requests for new general-fund dollars. Several members urged continued partnership and coordination between CoSWAP (Colorado Statewide Forest Action Plan-related work) and Wildfire Ready Watersheds to leverage existing funds and programs.","Colorado Forest Health Council members heard that Wildfire Ready Watersheds and the Colorado Water Plan grant provide sustainable funding, but state budget shortfalls make new general-fund investments unlikely in the near term.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6709673,"Legislative committee approves minutes from prior meeting",16,138000,154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070900-8adc186bcd672c8770652c2394a13433&start=138&end=154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070900-8adc186bcd672c8770652c2394a13433/thumbnail_138000.jpg","/articles/6709673/Colorado/Legislative-committee-approves-minutes-from-prior-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6709673-10abe2da30c0ba30996c8eb582a51c25/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170306&Signature=Uzp0HfVqingDlufdK1agXXW9S6ccRSksjRGe~UmfmUbe5zr~KDTbbRZHzugrbVa2h~xnjA1hIX7JlJIKkcu4gQyvpXwfHoy-WqVSsyMkK38pA2dvtCYVfd9GnqgyzyDiHSwh98A9Kg0J1tEeyQnZeWPAHtrSToGvh8JACgHEll6U67pBB0ydEwCGk1uzZdbe7HZfktyA5udpdITmWbLm9XiIRU6NIMTsLhcy-W2WDV7B5Pc5QhIUCCsphuUPGvNrm9tdThO2ZIxVDJ6tey51bjFs9REAJ2anSzQWcK-50t6yaLQG-svNJNAxiwEtUZkd~OeJGBP3dkVOgBb6cbxZ7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Colorado Forest Health Council legislative committee approved the minutes from its previous meeting by unanimous voice vote during the Dec. 13 meeting.

Chair Larimer County Commissioner Jody Shab McNally asked for a motion to approve the minutes. A committee member moved and another seconded. Chair McNally called for the vote: “All those in favor, aye.” Multiple voices answered “Aye,” and the chair confirmed the minutes were approved; no opposition was recorded on the audio record.

No other formal actions or roll-call vote tallies were taken or recorded for that motion during the meeting.","The Colorado Forest Health Council legislative committee approved minutes from its previous meeting by voice vote on Dec. 13.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6709677,"Council urged to press federal partners on Good Neighbor Authority as revenue-positive tool",2650,480000,3130000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5070900-8adc186bcd672c8770652c2394a13433&start=480&end=3130","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5070900-8adc186bcd672c8770652c2394a13433/thumbnail_480000.jpg","/articles/6709677/Colorado/Council-urged-to-press-federal-partners-on-Good-Neighbor-Authority-as-revenue-positive-tool","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6709677-2c599340101c41b2b6740bebe077200a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170306&Signature=ELqSvAB8U6prSL74Y0BjwNL22xCQmJM0ZEAzJ92kO4dFZVVgcJt4S3pJJqPgwBBvNpoYNdGHGdqqzTgxDbH8Se~m0Yc01SlvE4JONgW3EBtiPF~cANWL5faV-HIuPf161wZSCYT2xMiGfvUyl-Rz-MPL8xTsLyuZnzSpQYEn1qpOkLnUQnn3Sq7wyFEqUqKOKmxCi3jHg4bF1xbon2isFj8eAgZ9pIXUxQzJxWuvwxNsGR20q5W5LtDjtAZSB43CwIt76DEAboXswRxkDXx3AVgt56-IUdWgrcJO~Vte~t9rxMxkB6FjKa3ic1PSarcBLPJNd1NyR4TUVali41QNEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members discussed Good Neighbor Authority and how states can use it to increase on-the-ground forest treatments and generate revenue for further work.

Mark Morgan and other participants described Colorado’s GNA experience as a national leader, noting about 15,000 acres completed under contract and substantial federal timber delivered to industry under existing agreements. Morgan said neighboring states such as Wyoming and South Dakota are using GNA in ways that produce revenue-positive projects and urged the council to press federal officials and legislators to increase state control where appropriate.

“We have to affect federal policy and federal legislators to promote this. That's that's how we're gonna get it done,” one participant said, describing discussions at a recent regional Forest Service meeting. Members noted that director-level leadership in the State Forest Service has positioned Colorado to assume more implementation responsibility under GNA and that moving authority and associated funding to the state could help streamline delivery of projects.

Participants recommended documenting lessons learned from other states and identifying policy or administrative changes that can support more revenue-positive layouts and faster implementation, while acknowledging that additional funding is still a central constraint.","Participants praised Colorado’s use of Good Neighbor Authority (GNA), noted other states’ revenue-positive models, and urged the council to help press federal partners and lawmakers to expand state-led implementation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council explores using homeowner mitigation as grant match and a statewide match clearinghouse idea

Council hears return-on-investment figures and cheaper post-fire treatment options, including contour felling

Panel: Wildfire Ready Watersheds has sustainable funding, council told; state budget constraints limit new spending

Legislative committee approves minutes from prior meeting

Council urged to press federal partners on Good Neighbor Authority as revenue-positive tool