Our Solutions

Peaks to People Water Fund is protecting water resources in the Big Thompson and Cache la Poudre watersheds by providing critical funding for forest health projects that reduce the risk of severe wildfires. These forestry 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 dramatically accelerate forest restoration to reduce the threat of severe wildfire by engaging downstream water users to donate funds for this work. Using sophisticated tools, Peaks to People identifies the treatment type and location based on the greatest potential risk reduction. This enables us to maximize return on our investments.

“It is important that we put funds in specific places that make the most difference. So this idea of making investments that have the biggest return is why Peaks to People makes such a big impact. Water has always been the primary indicator of forest health. Nothing monetizes the investment in forest health like water does.” Mike Lester, Director Colorado State Forest Service (Retired)

Step 1

Utilize the Watershed Investment Tool to identify priority projects and to analyze pre-treatment conditions

Step 2

Collaborate with our implementation partners to determine shovel ready projects at the sites identified

Step 3

Provide funds to implementation partners to conduct the work

Step 4

Utilize the Watershed Investment Tool to Analyze post-treatment data to confirm treatment activities and gauge project success

Peaks to People and the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute have developed a Watershed Investment Tool to inform the optimal type and location of forest health treatments in the watersheds, ensuring that funds are put towards the greatest potential outcomes. The tool also enables us to analyze the results of projects to inform future decisions. The Watershed Investment Tool can be used to identify priority treatment areas based on the needs and concerns of a specific entity that is at risk from increased sedimentation levels.

Tactics

Treatments will by and large focus on reducing overgrown forests by thinning trees in a method that promotes natural habitats, but mitigates the risk of fire by leaving less available fuels to burn in the event of a fire. Depending on the specific treatment plans for each site, trees may be:

Felled and put into a burn pile
Removed for other use
Treated with a prescribed burn
Combination of the above

All treatment plans will be thoroughly vetted and discussed with landowners, contractors and stakeholders prior to the start of a project.

You can learn more about our projects, process, tool and tactics, by reviewing our recent projects.