Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative (CRWC)
Building Wildfire Resilience
The Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative (CRWC) unites local, state and federal partners to coordinate cross-boundary mitigation, preparedness and resilience efforts. Together, we're protecting lives, property, healthy watersheds and the landscapes that sustain our communities.
Who We Are
40+ Organizations. One Shared Plan.
CRWC formed in November 2022 to reduce wildfire risk before, during and after it strikes.
Members include:
Garfield & Mesa Counties
Cities of Rifle & Glenwood Springs
Towns of New Castle, Silt, Parachute & De Beque
The unincorporated community of Battlement Mesa
5 fire protection districts
U.S. Forest Service (White River National Forest)
BLM, Colorado State Forest Service, Colorado Parks & Wildlife
All formally signed to a shared Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), committing to cross-boundary collaboration across a region that relies on agriculture, tourism, recreation, energy industry and public lands.
For additional information about the Collaborative, view our Memorandum of Understanding.
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The Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative unites agencies, organizations, and communities across the middle Colorado River watershed to reduce wildfire risk through coordinated, cross-boundary mitigation, preparedness and resilience efforts, protecting lives, property, watersheds and the landscapes we depend on.
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A Middle Colorado River watershed where communities, landowners, and land managers work together across jurisdictions, recognizing fire as a natural part of this landscape, and fostering fire-adapted communities that reduce wildfire severity, safeguard critical infrastructure and water supplies, and build lasting local capacity to live resiliently alongside fire.
What We Do
How We Reduce Wildfire Risk, Together
Coordinate
We bring together federal, state, and local partners to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of landscape-scale mitigation projects and develop collaborative funding mechanisms.
Empower
We help landowners, individual homeowners, homeowner associations (HOAs) and neighborhoods reduce wildfire risk through proactive mitigation planning, defensible space and evacuation preparedness practices that protect homes, communities and critical infrastructure.
Repurpose
Rather than treating slash and excess vegetation as waste, we support beneficial uses such as mulching and chipping while advancing future opportunities, including biochar, that can improve soil health and forest resilience.
Coordinating Wildfire Mitigation Across the Watershed
How We Work
Wildfire doesn’t respect property lines or county boundaries. That’s why CRWC coordinates mitigation across public and private lands, bringing partners together to address wildfire risk at a landscape scale.
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Each project begins with research into land ownership, infrastructure and water supplies at risk, wildlife habitat and community needs. CRWC works with landowners, utilities, agencies, and other partners to identify opportunities for coordinated treatment and develop strategies that address multiple risks and benefits.
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Many project areas overlap with important wildlife habitat, creating benefits for both human and non-human users of the landscape. The work also helps address post-fire risks—including flooding, debris flows, and soil damage—that can impact communities and water supplies long after flames are extinguished.
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CRWC is evaluating opportunities across the watershed and prioritizing projects based on wildfire risk, community need, project readiness, and partner engagement.
Wallace Creek & Table Top Mesa — Garfield County
Alkali Creek & De Beque Ridge — Mesa County
500 acres of Grass Mesa — Garfield County
150 acres near Helmer Gulch
2,500 acres in the Battlement Mesa Area
Mitigation on leased lands near Conn Creek
Wild Horse Habitat Northwest of De Beque
South Rifle Habitat Enhancement Project
What You Can Do
Protect Your Home, Property or Neighborhood
Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Assessment
The area immediately surrounding your home is the most important factor in determining whether it survives a wildfire. Sam Feuerborn, CRWC Program Manager for the Middle Colorado Watershed Council, will visit your property, conduct a confidential assessment and provide a customized action plan — at no cost.
Free
Defensible Space & Fuel Reduction Support
Creating defensible space is one of the most effective ways to protect your home from wildfire. CRWC works with landowners, HOAs and neighborhoods to plan and implement vegetation management projects that reduce wildfire risk, slow fire spread and improve firefighter access and safety.
Community Preparedness Resources
Wildfire preparedness goes beyond your property line. From evacuation planning and emergency alerts to educational resources and community workshops, CRWC connects residents with the tools, information and partner agencies they need to prepare before wildfire strikes.
Made possible by the FRWRM grant
Funding Through Spring 2029
Sam Feuerborn's CRWC Program Manager role is funded through spring 2029 through the Colorado State Forest ServForest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation (FRWRM) grant, which focuses on three priorities:
Fuels and Forest Health Projects: Reducing wildfire risk while promoting forest restoration using scientifically-supported forestry practices
Community Engagement: Encouraging local groups, HOAs, municipalities, fire protection districts, utilities, state agencies and nonprofits to collaborate on projects that benefit the broader community
Resource Utilization: Supporting the use of woody material for traditional forest products and biomass energy
The FRWRM grant award was made possible with generous matching contributions from the AIM grant (Coalitions & Collaboratives), Rural Grant Navigator grant (Colorado State Forest Service), Chevron, Holy Cross Energy, De Beque Fire Protection District, Colorado River Fire Rescue, Garfield County, the City of Rifle and the towns of New Castle, Parachute and Silt.
CRWC’s History
A Timeline of Shared Commitment
November 2022
CRWC Formed
By local stakeholders along the Middle Colorado River corridor to tackle pre- and post-wildfire challenges, from reducing wildfire intensity to lessening the impacts of post-fire flooding, debris flows and infrastructure damage.
2022 - 2023
Garfield County CWPP Updated
Garfield County updated its Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) in 2022, with priorities to protect lives, infrastructure, the environment and economic values, particularly in the wildland urban interface (WUI). Mesa County followed with an update in 2023, identifying local hazards and strategies to reduce wildfire risk.
May 2024
Partners Tour Project Sites
In May 2024, the wildfire collaborative project committee, including representatives from BLM, Colorado River Fire Rescue, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado State Forestry, and MCWC visited Wallace Creek, Grass Mesa and other sites to discuss current and future mitigation projects.
There’s a Role for You in a Fire-resilient Watershed
Get Involved
For Landowners
Get a free, confidential assessment of your property's wildfire risk and a personalized action plan.
For Partners and Neighbors
Join our monthly meeting, second Tuesday of each month, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., or reach out with questions.