Bureau of Land Management – Colorado: Community Wildfire and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Grant

BLM Colorado seeks cooperators to accomplish various activities to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire on public and private lands located in Colorado. Project work may include, but not be limited to, the following: hazardous fuels reduction treatments, including a variety of strategies; mitigation planning and assessments, including community wildfire protection plans; public education programs; expand community capacity to respond to a wildfire; and fire prevention activities.

Through this funding opportunity announcement, the Colorado State Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seeks to engage cooperators to support hazardous fuels reduction activities on public and private lands along the wildland-urban interface (WUI) in an effort to reduce the risk to resources on both federal and private lands from wildfire. Activities are being carried out by a variety of organizations in cooperation with state, local and federal agencies. Reducing the risk of wildfire to communities, property, wildlife, and critical infrastructure is essential to public and firefighter safety.

The Colorado State Office of the BLM seeks cooperators to accomplish various tasks to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire on public and private lands located in Colorado. Project activities may include, but not be limited to, the following: hazardous fuels reduction treatments, including a variety of strategies; mitigation planning and assessments, including community wildfire protection plans; public education programs; expand community capacity to respond to a wildfire; and fire prevention activities.

Funding is available through fiscal year 2017, with the option to add funding, if available, in subsequent fiscal years based on the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed each year by Congress and/or the enactment of Continuing Resolutions. Applicant projects may be scalable with options for funding in future fiscal years. Applicants are encouraged to seek funding based on the period of performance. Incremental funding may be added to an initial award as available.

Specific examples of eligible activities may include the following:

1. Conduct community wildfire protection assessment and planning activities, such as:

a) Conduct assessments to document the threat of wildfire.
b) Develop and maintain a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) that identifies necessary actions to reduce the threat and impact of wildfire in Colorado.
c) Identify monitoring and maintenance requirements for short- and long-term community protection.

2. Develop and implement fire education, training, and/or community action plans/programs that may include the following:
a) Mitigation and prevention activities
b) Public education programs that promote:
i. Combustible vegetation management.
ii. Structural ignition prevention.
iii. Defensible space.

3. Accomplish hazardous fuels reduction activities through the following techniques or methods:

a) Conduct treatments on public and private lands to include manual, mechanical, chemical, and biological treatments, and prescribed fire (broadcast burning and pile burning) to remove undesirable species, accomplish desired forest stands, and improve forage conditions.
b) Structural and landscape modifications to create defensible space.

4. Expand community capability to do the following:
a) Engage community members in fire prevention and best practices for mitigation.
b) Provide training on wildfire prevention to local businesses, community organizations, residents, schools, nonprofit organizations, and trade groups.
c) Support and implement strategies for fire adapted communities to address and reduce the threat of wildfire.