Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Funding (WIIN): Florida River Wildfire Reduction Project
This cooperative project is funded by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), made possible through a grant that CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment) is distributing for ecosystem management and forest restoration to reduce impacts to the San Juan Basin, mainly, Florida Watershed. Funding prioritizes lives and property, drinking water supply and quality, and forest-watershed values.
Funds are available to private landowners within in the mapped program area (map at bottom of this webpage) who complete a free home wildfire risk assessment and hire a contractor to complete wildfire mitigation on their parcel. Once mitigation is completed, the program may reimburse the homeowner up to 50% of the project. * fulfillment of program eligibility requirements apply.
Homeowners can participate by signing up for a Home Wildfire Risk Assessment and letting your Assessor know that you would like to participate in the WIIN grant. Assessments are completed by our program partner, Wildfire Adapted Partnership (WAP), Durango Fire Protection District and La Plata County staff.
Are you curious what recommendations you might receive? Learn about Colorado State Forest Service guidelines here and see grant guidelines here. The assessment and grant requirements aim to assist homeowners in creating defensible space through Home Ignition Zones which reduce the risk of structure ignitability. At your free Wildfire Risk Assessment you will learn about wildfire behavior and Home Ignition Zones and your Assessor, with your assistance, will develop a customized scope of work for your property. The scope of work is a set of requirements required for grant eligibility.
Take a property tour with your Assessors and learn how to reduce your wildfire risk. Sign up for an assessment. At the assessment you will learn about grant requirements. To help you better understand what is involved, here are Cost Share Instructions with a Timeline. Grant funding is available only as reimbursement for paying a contractor to complete wildfire mitigation that achieves your scope of work.
Ready to hire someone to complete your wildfire mitigation? Colorado State Forest Service provides a contractor list. See which contractors have participated in the program to-date. In addition to grant match, the amount you pay outside of the grant can be deducted on your CO State taxes. Access the state tax credit form here.
Do not hire a contractor until you've signed an award letter with your Assessor.
Homeowners with excess or unwanted firewood are encouraged to donate to One-ness Needs Everyone. Your wood will be chopped and delivered as a donation to community members in need and you can receive a donation certificate for taxes. Reach One-ness Needs Everyone, O.N.E.
Brian at 97o-880-9663 and ONEnessdurango@gmail.com.
Are you a contractor interested in being involved with preparing our community for wildfire and protecting our valuable watershed? Learn program details here
and watch a quick video explaining the grant.
Thank you to Durango Fire Protection District, EPA and CDPHE for making this grant possible.
Forest restoration projects not only protect water from sedimentation and debris, but also improve forest health and habitat, decrease firefighting costs, and reduce home loss and infrastructure damage. Our goal is to accelerate forest restoration to reduce the threat of severe wildfire, with your assistance, and with collaboratives across our county. Mountain Studies Institute has installed two water monitoring systems, funded through this grant, on the Florida River.
Parcels within this mapped area are eligible for grant funding:
Participant forms for download:
Cost Share Instructions