DENVER, COLORADO – Colorado is expanding its wildfire prevention efforts with a new $8.4 million investment in mitigation projects, workforce training, and watershed protection. Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Wednesday that the funding—allocated through the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP)—will support 19 projects aimed at reducing fire risks and strengthening community resilience.
“This critical funding supports wildfire mitigation efforts across the state and helps Coloradans gain skills and earn hands-on experience to become the next generation of well-equipped Colorado foresters,” said Governor Polis.
The funding includes two major initiatives: 14 Workforce Development Grants to train over 150 individuals while treating 1,045 acres of forested land, and five Landscape Resilience Investments to protect high-risk watersheds across Garfield, Grand, Boulder, Jackson, and Montezuma counties.
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Expanding Colorado’s Wildfire Workforce
The Workforce Development Grants are designed to provide entry-level training and hands-on experience in wildfire mitigation and forestry. The initiative partners with organizations such as the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) and the Department of Corrections’ State Wildland Inmate Fire Teams (DOC SWIFT) to prepare workers for careers in wildfire prevention.
Several youth corps groups, including Larimer County Conservation Corps, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Mile High Youth Corps, and Southwest Conservation Corps, received funding for six mitigation projects. Meanwhile, DOC SWIFT crews will lead three projects, and five additional grants will support training in wildland firefighting and chainsaw operations.
“COSWAP is a transformational program,” said Scott Segerstrom, Executive Director of the Colorado Youth Corps Association. “Not only does it protect the lives and livelihoods of millions of Coloradans, but it also unites people through service to their communities.”
The Pueblo Fire Department, which has secured COSWAP funding since 2022, credited the program with significantly reducing wildfire spread in its area. Deputy Fire Chief Kieth Novak highlighted the program’s role in clearing fire-prone vegetation along the Fountain and Arkansas Rivers to create firebreaks and improve firefighter access.
Protecting Critical Watersheds
In collaboration with the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Wildfire Ready Watersheds program, COSWAP’s Landscape Resilience Investments will fund five large-scale projects aimed at protecting key water sources from post-wildfire hazards like floods and debris flows.
Recipients include:
- City of Boulder
- City of Fort Collins
- City of Glenwood Springs
- Grand Fire Protection District
- Mancos Conservation District
“The Wildfire Ready Watersheds program ensures that wildfire mitigation efforts not only protect homes and infrastructure but also safeguard the watersheds that sustain our communities,” said Chris Sturm, Watershed Program Director at the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
Free: Complete Colorado 14ers Planner
Every peak. Every trailhead. Every detail: in one spreadsheet.
- All 58 peaks ranked beginner to expert
- Safety notes and seasonal windows for each
- Route difficulty, mileage, and prep tips
A Growing Statewide Effort
Since its creation in response to Colorado’s devastating 2020 wildfire season, COSWAP has invested over $25.4 million in landscape resilience and $13.8 million in workforce development. The program continues to expand, with annual Workforce Development Grant opportunities and biennial Landscape Resilience Investments.
This year’s funding also supports a pilot project in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, a collaboration between Serve Colorado, the Colorado National Guard, and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. The initiative will provide National Guard members with wildfire mitigation experience while strengthening military readiness.
By combining wildfire risk reduction with workforce training, COSWAP continues to build Colorado’s capacity to prepare for and respond to future wildfires—protecting both communities and critical natural resources.
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