County hears plan to prioritize watershed and forest health across Clear Creek watershed

Clear Creek County commissioners received an introductory briefing from the Clear Creek Watershed Forest Health Partnership on a plan to coordinate wildfire mitigation and watershed-resilience projects across the upper Clear Creek watershed.

The partnership, represented by Forest and Mitigation Program Manager Kelby Woodward, described itself as a recently formed nonprofit focused on prioritizing forest treatments, protecting water infrastructure and expanding outreach to private landowners and local fire districts. “It’s not a question of if a wildfire is gonna come through, it’s a question of when,” Woodward told the board, urging early, landscape-scale planning.

Woodward told commissioners the watershed covers about 575 square miles and supplies drinking water to roughly 450,000 people in downstream communities. The partnership grew out of a pre-wildfire planning study by the Upper Clear Creek Watershed Association; its stated near-term goals include hiring staff for project coordination, moving priority projects toward implementation, increasing public education and developing a multi-stakeholder response system in the event of wildfire.

Commissioners asked about near-term deliverables and funding. Woodward said most on-the-ground mitigation work requires grant funding and coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, and that the partnership’s immediate task is to translate prior planning into prioritized, fundable projects. “I would say next steps are really trying to get to that implementation phase,” Woodward said, adding that some projects likely will not reach construction until the next field season because of funding and permitting timelines.

Commissioners and county staff discussed potential long-term funding approaches, including regional funding mechanisms. Commissioner Toby Perkins suggested exploring a forest-health district or similar cross‑jurisdictional funding model to secure sustainable, local revenue for treatments that protect downstream water users. Woodward said the partnership is open to working with county officials and regional partners to evaluate financing options, and noted existing grant applications and an upcoming state wildfire-risk grant being pursued for a Mount Vernon project in Jefferson County.

The partnership said its May stakeholder meeting will include a mapping exercise to align partners on priority treatment areas and timelines. Woodward encouraged county staff and commissioners to share local priorities and to participate in the mapping and outreach work.

The presentation concluded with Woodward offering contact information and an invitation for county staff to coordinate on specific project opportunities and grant applications.

Ending: The county will continue discussions about project priorities and funding. Commissioners asked staff to stay engaged with the partnership as it develops grant applications and maps priority work areas.