Project Description

The Cameron Peak Fire (CPF) burned 208,913 acres across the Big Thompson, Cache la Poudre, and Laramie River Valley, making it the largest fire in Colorado’s recorded history. Fifty-two percent of the burn perimeter was classified as high to moderate severity burn. High severity burns can have lasting impacts on soil health and the rate of revegetation. Natural post-fire revegetation can be impacted if the topsoil, where seeds are stored, is burned away and if the trees in the surrounding area are lost in the fire and can no longer produce new seed. Without trees to produce seed or seed stock in the soil, some areas may never become reforested. This is exacerbated by climate change as some areas may shift to grassland or different forest types due to rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and prolonged drought. To counter this, a group of organizations, including BTWC, is coordinating ponderosa pine reforestation efforts on private lands in severely burned areas. Starting in 2022, BTWC, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers, and Larimer County Conservation Corps planted 3,400 seedlings in the Big T. These efforts continued in the spring of 2023, with 5,000 seedlings planted and will continue into future years with a goal of planting at least 25,000 seedlings across the Big Thompson and Poudre River watersheds.