Notes from the CRO Director: Launching the Colorado Resilience Community of Practice
May is National Wildfire Awareness Month! Please read more in this month’s Resilience Conversation.
As many of you know, two years ago SB23-166 established the Wildfire Resiliency Code Board (WRCB), within the Division of Fire Prevention and Control to help enhance community safety and resiliency from wildfires through the adoption of codes and standards. These codes will apply to new construction and certain external additions, alterations, or repairs for areas identified in the Colorado Wildfire Resilience Code State Map or a locally-adopted map.
After meeting monthly for a year and a half, the WRCB held four public hearings in early May to get feedback on the draft Wildfire Resiliency Code. The WRCB met on May 9, 2025, to review and incorporate public comments. These codes, along with rules and regulations, will be finalized and adopted by the WRCB by July 1, 2025, so stay tuned for more information, including a final rulemaking public hearing later in June. Of note to local jurisdictions, SB25-142 passed. This bill extends the time from three to nine months to adopt local wildfire codes that meet or exceed the State codes.
Thank you to all that have provided feedback along the way!
Be well,
Anne Miller and the CRO team
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What's New at CRO?
CRO Attends the First Ever Colorado Youth Climate Summit
 CRO was honored to attend the inaugural Colorado Youth Climate Summit in Carbondale. CRO’s Marguerite Harden and Shayle Sabo led a workshop with youth from around the state to envision solutions to reduce future impacts of climate change and some of the top natural hazards in Colorado, such as drought, extreme heat, and wildfire. Workshop participants also provided early input into the 2025 Colorado Resiliency Framework update!
CRO Launches the Colorado Resilience Community of Practice
In case you missed the news last month, on Earth Day, the CRO launched the Colorado Resilience Community of Practice! This virtual forum on LinkedIn enables resilience professionals from across the State to share best practices, discuss solutions to challenges, explore various topics, and more! We welcome you to join us!
Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council - Spring Conference
In April, CRO’s Recovery Program Manager, Matthew Jacobs, presented at the Routt Wildfire Mitigation Council Spring Conference held in Steamboat Springs. The theme of the conference included “Building on Lessons Learned for a More Resilient Future.” Matthew provided an overview of the Department of Local Affairs' role during disaster recovery, along with sharing resources and tools developed and managed by CRO to support local communities with pre and post-disaster recovery planning.
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April Resilience Conversation: Wildfire Awareness Month
 Wildfire is a top hazard in Colorado, and May is Wildfire Awareness Month. This is a time we can collectively build awareness of risk and prepare ourselves and our communities for impacts of wildfire. Read more about what the State is doing to take action as well as additional wildfire preparedness resources in May’s Resilience Conversation.
Resiliency News
Landscape Transformation Guide
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) collaborated with engineering consultants, Brown and Caldwell, Denver Water, and Resource Central to release the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Landscape Transformation Guide to create water-wise landscapes. This guide can be used by anyone from large businesses to homeowners.
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New Study Maps Recreation and Environmental Sensitivity in the Central San Juans
As part of DOLA’s Rural Recovery and Resilience Roadmap Program, Region 9’s Economic Development District and Region 10’s League for Economic and Planning Assistance collaborated with stakeholders from six counties to create the High Alpine Resiliency and Recovery Roadmap.
Conducted by the Mountain Studies Institute (MSI), the study explores the balance between outdoor recreation and environmental protection in southwestern Colorado’s high alpine areas. Using recreation data, infrastructure mapping, and environmental indicators, MSI identified areas where recreation use and ecological sensitivity overlap. The results, presented in an interactive map, offer valuable insights for land managers and communities to support sustainable recreation while protecting natural resources.
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Funding Highlights
Climate Resilience Grant Program
The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Drought and Climate Resilience Office has recently opened a new grant opportunity to support farmers and ranchers who have experienced adverse effects due to climate-change induced disasters and are seeking to enhance their resilience against future climate-related challenges. Tribal and local governments including Conservation Districts are also eligible to apply, with application deadlines due on May 29, 2025.
2025 Fuels Mitigation Grant Workshop
The Colorado State Forest Service and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources are teaming up with Wildfire Partners for a one-day grant workshop to build skills in developing and writing successful fuels mitigation grant proposals. The workshop will be held on June 17, 2025, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., in Lafayette, CO. More information and registration is available on the 2025 Fuels Mitigation Grant Workshop registration website.
Water Plan Grants
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB)’s Water Plan Grant Program has $36.77 million in available funding for the upcoming fiscal year. Applications must support one of the five funding categories in the Colorado Water Plan and deadlines are July 1, 2025, and December 1, 2025.
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