During the Jan. 17 administrative public hearing, Mesa County Commissioners approved a letter to the Colorado Water Conservation Board to support the Middle Colorado Watershed Council’s Wildfire Ready Action Plan grant request.
The letter states:
“The Mesa County Board of County Commissioners (“Mesa County”) writes today on behalf of the Middle Colorado Watershed Council’s (“MCWC”) application to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for funding assistance for a Wildfire Ready Action Plan (“Plan”) in coordination with Middle Colorado watershed stakeholders.
It is our understanding that the purpose of the Plan will be to look at the coordination efforts of stakeholders related to pre-fire mitigation projects, determine values at risk for wildfire, and address post-wildfire hazards and impacts.
Given the continued drought, as well as the quantity and intensity of wildfires in the west, we support enhancement efforts for discussion surrounding fire mitigation and response efforts and protection of our critical water resources. Mesa County’s support of this plan is contingent on the County’s comprehensive participation in each element of plan development, ongoing review of each related project undertaken as a result of the plan, and most importantly, on the fact that no element of this project will seek to modify water rights.
Thank you for your consideration.”
Click here (video timestamp 2:11) to watch the approval of the letter.