Project Overview:
The Ben Delatour Scout Ranch is a 3,200-acre property located 40 miles northwest of Fort Collins, CO. Established in 1958, the ranch is used for a wide variety of programs designed to help children develop respect for the natural environment and build leadership and survival skills. Project work began in late 2016 in an area of the ranch within the Elkhorn Creek subwatershed. Elkhorn Creek feeds directly into the Poudre River, making it extremely important to the overall watershed health. The area has been fire suppressed for more than 100 years, which has led to increases in forest density and heavy fuel accumulations.
Project Outcome:
The project began in late 2016 with a focus on thinning trees and promoting habitat health. This initiative builds on an existing project initiated by the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed and partners in 2015, and allowed an additional 27 acres to be treated. A prescribed burn was conducted as part of this project to demonstrate the value of this management tool. Read our blog to learn more about the benefits of prescribed fire. Data collected from this project is currently being assessed to determine the outcomes and effects of the treatment, inform future projects, and support the development of the Watershed Investment Tool.
Project Monitoring Summaries:
Monitoring Summary Ben Delatour Scout Ranch — Thin and Burn
Monitoring Summary Ben Delatour Scout Ranch – Burn Only
Partners Involved:
Peaks to People Water Fund, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, The Nature Conservancy
Photo Credit: © The Nature Conservancy