Aurora Water is giving $500,000 to help restore the Hayman fire burn area in a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Vail Resorts and the National Forest Foundation.
The 2002 Hayman fire was the largest wildfire in Colorado history, torching 138,000 acres in the Pike National Forest.
Aurora transports much of its water supply from the South Platte River, through the Hayman fire burn area into Strontia Springs.
“The quality and reliability of our water supply is dependent upon healthy forests,” Aurora Water director Mark Pifher said in a written statement. “Failure to take action now would result in more costly measures in the future.”
Aurora has pledged to help restore 45,000 acres from the Hayman fire. It also plans to seek $200,000 from the private sector, including a grant from The Gates Family Foundation.
In all, the project to restore the burn area is estimated at $4.6 million.
More than 200,000 ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and other varieties of trees will be planted. Also, 13 miles of riverbank will be revegetated with native foliage.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
