Colorado Governor Jared Polis Announces State Support for Wildfire Recovery Efforts
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has announced additional state support for communities affected by the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires. The state will cover 75% of the non-federal cost share for projects under the USDA’s Emergency Watershed Protection program. This initiative aims to address flood risks in Ouray, Pueblo, and Custer Counties, protecting residents, homes, and infrastructure from post-fire flooding and reducing watershed risks as burn scars heal. Typically, counties are responsible for 25% of these project costs, but with the state's increased contribution, the counties' share will be reduced to 6.25% of the total cost. The fires, which began in late June, burned over 140,000 acres combined. Heavy rainfall in July and August led to repeated flooding and debris flows, resulting in one fatality near the Aspen Acres burn scar and multiple closures of U.S. Highway 440, impacting communities during the peak tourism season. Governor Polis previously declared a disaster emergency for the fires in ...