Pueblo County approves contract for Rye Mountain Park fuels reduction

Pueblo County commissioners approved a contract to thin fuel loads on roughly 60 acres in Rye Mountain Park, a step county staff said is intended to reduce future wildfire risk.

County staff said the project will be funded with $61,000 from the Colorado State Forest Service and a $61,000 congressional-directed match. Staff explained the contract scope was reduced from about 64.2 acres to 60 acres to fit the available funding and said the county will act as fiscal agent and reporting agent for the grant funding.

Derek Sokolowski, representing the Colorado State Forest Service on Zoom, said the recent fire demonstrated the hazardous condition of vegetation in the area and that the service will coordinate with private landowners to extend treatments off the public parcel. Staff told the board that the grant timeline runs through June 2027 but, based on vendor timing, anticipated the work could be completed by the end of this calendar year.

The board approved the agreement by voice vote.

Why it matters: The thinning project uses grant funds so the county is not incurring general-fund costs and aims to mitigate wildfire hazards in a park that experienced recent fire activity.