Over the next five years, Denver Water, the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region, Colorado State Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service will invest $33 million in forest restoration projects to treat more than 40,000 acres within Denver Water’s critical watersheds.

Under the From Forests to Faucets partnership, the region has been working with Denver Water since 2010 to implement forest and watershed health projects. The goal is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and restore forests impacted by wildfires surrounding reservoirs, as well as minimize erosion and sedimentation in reservoirs. Under the 2017–2021 program, Denver Water will invest $16.5 million in forest and watershed health projects within Denver Water’s critical watersheds.

The Forest Service will receive $11.5 million of the total Denver Water investment. CSFS will receive $3 million and the NRCS will receive $2 million. Each entity will also match Denver Water’s funding for a total of $33 million.