MAY 22, 2021 
JUNE 26, 2021
SEPTEMBER 11, 2021

8AM-4PM
Highway 78 Mile 1.0 (commonly called 12-Mile Road)

To reduce wildfire hazard in our communities, the US Forest Service, San Carlos Ranger District and ARWC will host wildfire mitigation slash collection sites. Residents are invited to bring slash and natural woody material from wildfire mitigation efforts to the staffed collection site during these one-day events. ​Only slash and natural woody material from wildfire mitigation efforts is accepted. Absolutely no trash. Each load will be evaluated before unloading.

Please help us continue this service to the community by honoring these rules:

Bring only natural woody debris from wildfire mitigation efforts on your property.
Limbs and branches from firs, pines, oak and brush will be accepted. 
NO lumber, weeds, grass, sawdust, stumps, wood chips or trash of any kind will be allowed. 
NO ground litter such as mulch or pine needles will be allowed.
NO commercial operators at this event. Contractors working for participating landowners are welcome. 

USFS will collect the slash piles for burning next winter. Additional collection dates will be offered throughout the year. We will post that information here. For more information, please contact Allyson Pokrzywinski @ allyson.pokrzywinski@usda.gov or 719 221 5215.

As the rainy season approaches, we want to remind area residents to begin preparing now for post-fire flooding in the Decker Fire burn area. Areas below the Decker Fire burn scar face risks to safety, homes, roads, trails, and water supplies from post-fire flash flooding. While projects are underway to assist landowners and others with recovery, there is significant work you can do now - before the rainy season is upon us. 
 
Education and preparedness are the first line of defense.
Hillsides stripped by the fire of trees and other vegetation are unable to absorb rainfall which creates what we call a “bulking factor”. The bulking factor takes into consideration increased runoff due to reduced vegetation and the collection of debris (burned trees, soils, etc.). The bulking factor in post-fire conditions results in dangerous flash flooding even in drainages or draws that have historically been dry. Burned and unstable soils break apart easily even with modest amounts of precipitation and burned trees and debris can be swept down during a flash flood and cause severe injuries and threats to life and property. Educating and preparing yourself will go a long way to creating a safe and secure environment on your property.

• Be safe. 

Safety is of the utmost importance when post-fire flooding occurs which can be during the first rain events of the monsoon season and remain a threat for many years to come. During a rain event in the burn scar area, get to high ground immediately. Do not use trails during this time as they can quickly become a route for fast-moving water from a flash flood. If you have not already, sign up for Chaffee County’s EverBridge alert system. 

• Be smart - remove homemade dams, berms, and bridges.

Conditions can and do create dangerous water flows in dry gullies that have never seen water before. In these areas, homemade dams, berms, and bridges can create debris jams and unintentionally divert floodwaters toward your home, or your neighbors. Please remove any homemade dams, berms, and bridges to protect yourself and your neighbors. 

• Be Prepared – its not too late to get FEMA flood insurance. 

It is highly recommended that all property owners who are located below the Decker Fire burn scar consider getting FEMA flood insurance. Additional information on FEMA flood insurance can be found on our Resources page.

• Clean and remove debris and garbage from your property.

Keep draws, drainages, and low-lying areas free from debris of any kind. Remove and dispose of down branches and trees and any trimmings from yard care. Get rid of trash, scrap metal, old vehicles, tires, and anything else that could get swept downstream. Contact the Chaffee County Landfill for more information on disposing of debris. 

By taking a few basic but vital steps you can prepare yourself for potential post-fire flooding. We ask you all to be safe, be prepared, and be informed. For more information, links, resources, and contacts to help you prepare for post-fire flooding please visit the Chaffee Recovers website.
 
REGISTER NOW FOR CHAFFEE COUNTY EMERGENCY ALERTS

PURCHASE FLOOD INSURANCE

REVIEW PREPAREDNESS & RECOVERY RESOURCES
 

We join with our community - locally and globally - to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus to help protect those that are most vulnerable. We are practicing social distancing, remaining at home  and cancelling gatherings in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

We are fortunate to have a team that is prepared for and adept at working remotely so that we can continue working on urgent projects - especially post-fire recovery and flood preparedness - that impact the health and safety of our communities in the Arkansas Basin. 

We will continue to shelter at home to protect public health and follow disease control recommended practices, while continuing to work hard on projects that positively impact forest and watershed health, and water quality, in the basin. We will continue to prepare for potential post-fire flooding that the coming rainy season could bring. If you live in a fire-impacted community in the basin and have questions or concerns, please reach out by phone or email. We encourage everyone to carefully practice social distancing to keep everyone as safe as possible. 

During times of change that channel our attention and action to uncertain circumstances, we can choose to take the opportunity to learn to tread more lightly on the earth, consider how we may  consume less to be safe and comfortable, and care for each other and the land that sustains us all.