Big Thompson Forest Health Assessment
Project Summary
2022 - Present
In 2011, JW Associates completed a Watershed/Wildfire Hazard Assessment for the Big Thompson River Watershed. In 2020, the Cameron Peak Fire burned large amounts of the watershed. JW Associates then completed the Post-fire Hazard Assessment and Treatment Prioritization for the entire fire, including the Big Thompson River Watershed. JW directed the mulching treatments in the Big Thompson River Watershed and continues to lend support and expertise for further hillslope treatments and post-fire recovery efforts.
In 2022, JW Associates conducted the Forest Health Assessment. This project uses a specialized approach to assess the overall forest health of the Big Thompson River 7th level watersheds and incorporate new data regarding water quality and components of climate change vulnerability.
Partners
Big Thompson Watershed Coalition
Project Actions
Identify and assess forest health components & threats
Utilize water quality data as an indicator of forest health, and vice versa, where practical
Collect existing data and analyses that address the key components and threats
Complete a watershed-scale forest health assessment and prioritization, looking at the following factors:
Wildfire hazard
Post-fire hazards
Insects & disease
Forest diversity
Climate change vulnerability
Water quality
Identify potential actions to improve forest health and water quality throughout the Big Thompson Watershed
Benefits
Protect critical water supplies and natural resources
Mitigate negative effects of wildfire through targeted projects
Protect and restore river ecosystem function and health
Provide technical assessments to support short- and long-term watershed planning & protection actions
Photos of the Big Thompson River Watershed Post-fire
Project Maps
