[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5977257,"mediaKeyId","5821862-f98f7df6d689cbb41c7f56208e9482bd","parentId",5821862,"title","El Paso County commissioners report D.C. meetings on forest mitigation, communications hardening and federal funding","audioSeconds",562,"startMs",1599000,"endMs",2161000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5821862-f98f7df6d689cbb41c7f56208e9482bd&start=1599&end=2161","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5821862-f98f7df6d689cbb41c7f56208e9482bd/thumbnail_1599000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5977257/El-Paso-County/Colorado/El-Paso-County-commissioners-report-DC-meetings-on-forest-mitigation-communications-hardening-and-federal-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977257-aace3a0fc071389e4e4d80f706db43a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771038649&Signature=IEe5CJOzDol~QFZjuwyCvsxchIN~i3glwS4Ez-zKLQHNsuSXflNnjhxeO0e7NY~Mr0y8dYzP3bHIeNYh-~HqcxYBzhHbP7pSK0RGOjx96wcKzDvjf3Q0ehNtOv~kRmioi6v~AASIzuxQrzZRKHL8DVQaWfO1GNS7O3d2-ey6r65JqZJ~BjVsDyIoN8BjwCckwnGdoUXN2Z4ueeqmNq91JQ6mEcp8T8TvBhAxP6EtpC7MI4KeuypBoOjwnMPM~HcYXAKnH41PSOZMWU8amVM6LKnQwxQ63~p7Yd1gf5sGhzDNhHof6VNI6hI6gZd2c4KBPGSczopEBPHz13TDVYv0qA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","El Paso County","date","2025-09-23T00:00:00Z","article","Commissioners from El Paso County reported Sept. 23 on a recent Washington, D.C., fly-in during which they met with federal agencies and congressional staff to discuss wildfire mitigation, communications infrastructure in the wildland-urban interface and federal support for local projects. Commissioners described meetings with the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the Federal Communications Commission.

Commissioner Bill Wysong said he used the trip to “meet with the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, [and] talk about mitigation in the forest, to help control...wildfire issues” and also to learn about “hardening of cell sites within the WUI.” Wysong said more details would follow as county staff and partners pursue options discussed with federal agencies.

Commissioners also reported meetings with the county’s federal delegation and business partners aimed at bringing federal assets and investments to the county. Commissioner Lauren Nelson said the trip provided an opportunity to convey how federal programming and decisions play out on the ground and to press representatives on local priorities. Nelson said county leaders advocated for bringing “Golden Dome assets” and other space-related investments to El Paso County and described broad optimism from business leaders about opportunities tied to national defense and space operations.

Wysong described local nonprofit activity he observed during the trip. Referring to a Homefront Military Network event, he said more than $250,000 in emergency financial-assistance grants had been issued in 2024 and “more than 5,500 service member veterans and family members were served.” Commissioners thanked county government affairs staff for arranging meetings during the fly-in.

The reports were provided as part of routine commissioner updates; there were no formal actions or votes tied to the D.C. meetings recorded in the meeting minutes. Commissioners said follow-up and coordination with county departments and federal partners are expected as specific funding and project proposals are developed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners 9-23-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several El Paso County commissioners reported on a Washington, D.C. trip where they met with federal agencies and the county’s congressional delegation to discuss forest mitigation, hardening of communications sites, veteran support programs and economic development related to space assets.","taxTitle","El Paso County, Colorado","taxId",5790,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5977263,"El Paso County proclaims Sept. 27–Oct. 5 as Creek Week; Fountain Creek Watershed District urges volunteers",341,875000,1216000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5821862-f98f7df6d689cbb41c7f56208e9482bd&start=875&end=1216","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5821862-f98f7df6d689cbb41c7f56208e9482bd/thumbnail_875000.jpg","/articles/5977263/El-Paso-County/Colorado/El-Paso-County-proclaims-Sept-27Oct-5-as-Creek-Week-Fountain-Creek-Watershed-District-urges-volunteers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5977263-8a67b998b4fdf309a126999a92002d9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771038649&Signature=GOY5htPu9ZyWegQ~3i2oeTdkVu3up~ux6OoE0xrRPu9Bu988UpMwluWUjDflYMp6euWlcNFIcn-2ZuAKfs~6HOUoofd3wrs5d59qX9wwCSp2meSwn8kQ95AZDdEKwwB5A922o0uySHmoMYungZO-LfnNRRny1QljeMUQUH-~v~6ZDkYlH0V9~040PkhW3bK~iRmecu0xFvAb39ItxU6Hz9wFeTVlL6556-VEoF68AT7nK2kH91pHyQqluKoKFRccAE3JPG3MoAmDJqBTH7lUwhSix8Z59QtckrwdCQ8OkFOgttGztMF91SLKnUlHtls8ufK2rvKrScTxc5e6BRgsdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 23 unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing Creek Week 2025 and encouraged residents to take part in watershed cleanup activities scheduled Sept. 27–Oct. 5. The board voted 4–0 to adopt the proclamation during its regular meeting in Colorado Springs.

The proclamation recognizes the Fountain Creek Watershed as a regional recreational and agricultural resource and calls on residents, businesses and community groups to form “Creek Crews” to remove litter, reduce pollution and protect waterways. The proclamation text filed with the board states the event is the largest cleanup in Colorado and cites the cleanup’s role in reducing flooding risk and protecting drinking water and wildlife habitat.

Allie Shook of the Fountain Creek Watershed District briefed the board on the district’s outreach and restoration work and asked the public to volunteer. “We’ve engaged 25,000 volunteers in removing a 175 tons of trash,” Shook said. She described Creek Week as an accessible volunteer opportunity that includes preschool groups and seniors and noted that the district partners with local governments and organizations for training and equipment support.

Shook and commissioners described the watershed’s geographic scope and funding needs. Shook stated the Fountain Creek Watershed runs from Palmer Lake to Pueblo and “encompasses 927 square miles.” She said the district has identified about $1 billion in needed work across the watershed but does not have an established long-term funding source; the district has completed roughly $40 million in restoration on the main stem so far.

Commissioners noted local projects the district has supported. Shook said the district and the City of Fountain partnered on a recent Southmore Drive project that cost about $7,200,000 and required road closures during construction. Commissioner Gauri Applegate praised the district’s longstanding community engagement and asked residents to pick a cleanup date and location; Commissioner Lauren Nelson and others thanked the district for its partnership with county operations such as storage and crew-leader training at the county’s Bear Creek facilities.

The board approved the proclamation by voice roll call; Commissioners Bill Wysong, Lauren Nelson, Gauri Applegate and Chair Gary Geithner voted yes. The record shows Commissioner Holly Williams was excused from the meeting earlier.

County staff said three county-supported cleanups this year include work at the Bear Creek Dog Park and local nature centers. The Fountain Creek Watershed District announced Creek Week activities, resources for volunteers and locations when it spoke to the board.

For more information on how to participate, residents should contact the Fountain Creek Watershed District or the El Paso County website for Creek Week schedules and registration details.","The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 23 proclaimed Creek Week 2025 and heard a presentation from the Fountain Creek Watershed District highlighting volunteer cleanup efforts, watershed scope, and multi-million-dollar restoration needs.","actionData","errors"]

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El Paso County commissioners report D.C. meetings on forest mitigation, communications hardening and federal funding

El Paso County proclaims Sept. 27–Oct. 5 as Creek Week; Fountain Creek Watershed District urges volunteers