WILDFIRE AND WATERSHED
Initiative for Resilient Colorado
MISSION
The Wildfire and Watershed Initiative for Resilient Colorado (WWIRC) advances statewide sustainable public-private funding and other strategies to enhance the pace and scale of wildfire risk reduction and watershed resilience.
10% of Colorado’s forests need urgent attention
$4.2B estimated need to address wildfire risk, watershed protection & forest health
$150–$200M estimated annual need for priority areas
$6-13 saved for every $1 spent on proactive mitigation and disaster preparation
Why?
Catastrophic wildfire significantly impacts Colorado’s economy, safety, watersheds, infrastructure, and communities.
What?
WWIRC advances statewide sustainable public-private funding and other strategies to enhance the pace and scale of wildfire risk reduction and watershed resilience.
WWIRC activities are focused on sustainable funding, watersheds and forests, risk reduction and resilience, and landscape priorities for public and private lands. We catalyze statewide coordination across public and private sectors.
With a statewide focus on private-public funding, WWIRC complements state and local efforts including the Colorado Forest Health Council and Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network.
How?
WWIRC is advancing strategies for statewide public funding; local public funding; private-public funding; and forest restoration economies. These efforts are complemented by policy engagement, modern metrics, landscape projects, and strategic communications.
Who?
WWIRC brings together a broad cross-sector network with dozens of private and public sector participants. An Action Team steers the broader effort; current Action Team members include:
• City of Greeley
• Coalitions and Collaboratives, Inc.
• Colorado Dept. of Natural Resources
• Colorado Forum
• Colorado River District
• Colorado State Forest Service
• Colorado Timber Industry Association
• Conservation Investment Management
• Denver Water
• Fire Adapted Colorado
• National Forest Foundation
• National Wild Turkey Federation
• Northern Water
• The Nature Conservancy
• Trust for Public Land
• Western Resource Advocates
• World Resources Institute
• Federal agencies (information-sharing role)
• Facilitator: Keystone Policy Center