I_WMRC_2022A 07/20/2022 09:05:13 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
INTERIM COMMITTEE WILDFIRE MATTERS REVIEW COMMITTEE

Date

07/20/2022

Attendance
Coram	X
Cutter	*
Jaquez Lewis	X
Lynch	E
Simpson	X
Snyder	X
Story	*
Will	X
Valdez D.	X
Ginal	X

Time

09:05:13 AM to 04:43:32 PM

Place

Old State Library

This Meeting was called to order by

Ginal

This Report was prepared by

Anne Wallace

Hearing Items	Action Taken
hOverview of Committee Charge and Bill Request Process	Committee Discussion Only
hColorado State Forest Service	Committee Discussion Only
hDepartment of Public Safety, Division of Fire Prevention and Control	Committee Discussion Only
hDepartment of Natural Resources	Committee Discussion Only
hUpdate from Counties on Wildfire Projects and Challenges	Committee Discussion Only
hYouth Corps Wildfire Activities	Committee Discussion Only
hPublic Testimony	Committee Discussion Only
hCommittee Discussion on Next Steps	Committee Discussion Only
hState Wildfire Spending Update	Committee Discussion Only

09:05:15 AM

Senator Ginal, Chair,
gave opening remarks to the Wildfire Matter Reviews committee.

09:06:31 AM

Representative D. Valdez, Vice Chair, gave
opening remarks to the committee.

Overview of Committee Charge and Bill Request Process - Committee Discussion Only


	09:09:09 AM	Anne Wallace, Legislative Council Staff, and Megan Waples, Office of Legislative Legal Services, gave an overview of committee charge and bill request process.
	09:11:13 AM	Ms. Wallace and Ms. Waples answered questions from the committee.

Colorado State Forest Service - Committee Discussion Only


	09:16:28 AM	Matt McCombs, Director and State Forester, Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) gave a presentation on the CSFS. The presentation was an overview of the CSFS, their duties, services they provide, and the Colorado State Nursery the committee invested in.
	09:29:03 AM	Mr. McCombs answered questions from the committee on the reforestation process, forest management, native species, forest density, replanting efficacy, and wildfire risk software.
	09:48:14 AM	Mr. McCombs continued his presentation, giving an overview on legislation that impacted CSFS.
	10:03:32 AM	The committee commented on the recent legislation.
	10:12:00 AM	Mr. McCombs continued his presentation, giving an overview of funding, challenges forests and CSFS is facing, impacts of wildfires increasing, workforce capacity challenges, and national cohesive strategy.
	10:17:22 AM	Mr. McCombs answered questions from the committee on workforce needs and forestry experts.

Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Prevention and Control - Committee Discussion Only


	10:22:29 AM	Michael Morgan, Director, Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) in the Department of Public Safety, introduced himself and gave a brief overview of the division, how wildfire management works and the chain of command, history of wildfire management, increasing fire risk, duration and impact of fire, impacts and total costs of fire, a new approach to addressing fire issues, early detection, and state assistance to fires prior to it becoming state responsibility. The presentation can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/dfpc_wmrc_07202022_presentation.pdf.
	10:58:49 AM	Director Morgan answered questions from the committee regarding federal jurisdiction and their place in the chain of command, causes of previous fires, and using outside agencies as tools, such as the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
	11:11:52 AM	Director Morgan continued his presentation giving an overview of the Colorado Fire Commission, their priorities and subcommittees, as well as legislative updates and impacts. Additionally, Director Morgan gave an overview of recommendations from the Colorado Fire Commission on firefighting training and certification, statewide risk reduction, data and fire investigations, and a wildfire resiliency code board.
	11:41:47 AM	Director Morgan answered questions from the committee regarding statewide community risk assessment program, chain of command, notification systems and coordination, Wildfire Urban Interface (WUI) program, communities in the WUI and foothills area, construction in those areas, predictive services, and mega fires causes.

12:18:47 PM

The committee broke for lunch.

Department of Natural Resources - Committee Discussion Only


	02:04:52 PM	Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Alison Lerch, Wildfire Mitigation Program Administrator, DNR, and Chris Strum, Watershed Program Director, DNR, presented on DNR wildfire programs. They presented an overview of DNR's mission and role, wildfire-related program updates, Senate Bill 21-258 and the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Plan (COSWAP) updates, and post-fire watershed restoration update. Their presentation can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/dnr_wmrc_07202022_powerpoint.pdf.
	02:30:19 PM	The presenters answered questions on watershed restoration updates, emergency management, and workforce development and compensation.

Update from Counties on Wildfire Projects and Challenges - Committee Discussion Only


	02:40:49 PM	Commissioner Rich Cimino, Grand County, gave an update on wildfire projects and challenges. He told the committee about difficulties small counties face including lack of staff, a high amount of tourists that aren't counted with population, and difficulty applying for grants.
	02:47:51 PM	Commissioner Cimino answered questions from the committee on how much money Grand County would need to accomplish what they would like and grant writing.
	02:59:29 PM	Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper, Jefferson County, gave an overview of county wildfire programs, recent successes, upcoming projects, and issues the county is facing. This presentation can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/jeffco_wmrc_powerpoint.pdf.
	03:03:36 PM	Commissioner Dahlkemper answered questions from the committee regarding the WUI and evacuation routes, emergency notification, and practices.
	03:16:07 PM	Commissioner Jim Candelaria, Montezuma County, gave an overview of wildfire related grant funding and programs, outreach and education, fuel mitigation, challenges faced by smaller communities, and possible improvements.
	03:24:14 PM	Commissioner Candelaria answered questions from the committee on the biggest problems they are facing and potential issues that might arise with tribal land.
	03:30:24 PM	Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton, La Plata County, gave a presentation on ecological disasters faced from previous wildfires, flooding issues, community responses, the Wildfire Adapted Partnership, evacuation, landscape-scale restoration, mitigation mapping, legislation and program impacts, and what the county needs. Recommendations included increasing business mitigation, workforce, more funding, expanding COSWAP, and revising WUI code. The presentation can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/la_plata_county_wmrc_powerpoint.pdf.
	03:38:49 PM	Commissioner Porter-Norton answered questions from the committee regarding evacuation routes and planning.

Youth Corps Wildfire Activities - Committee Discussion Only


	03:49:14 PM	Scott Segerstrom, Executive Director, Youth Corps Association, gave an overview of the organization, their participants, and project scope. Fire, trail, and evasive species removal are their main focuses. His presentation detailed their fire capacity, women and veteren fire corps models that have been developed, workforce development, crew model, typical work, funding, and impact from legislation. An overview of the Colorado Youth Corps Association can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/youth_corp_association_fire_mitigation_capacity-2022_handout.pdf. The presentation can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/youth_corps_association_wmrc_powerpoint.pdf.
	03:56:37 PM	Mr. Segerstorm answered questions on crew compensation, worker compensation in the event of an injury, housing when in the field, contract with AmeriCorp grants, and program participation.
	04:09:23 PM	Narya Jacobson, a participant with the CYCA program, gave testimony on her experience with the program and answered questions from the committee.
	04:14:46 PM	Mr. Segerstorm answered questions from the committee on what CYCA would do with funding as well as their connection with tribal communities outreach and relationships, the impact of being a Coprs member and incentives they receive in the form of education awards.

Public Testimony - Committee Discussion Only


	04:20:29 PM	There was no public testimony.

Committee Discussion on Next Steps - Committee Discussion Only


	04:21:57 PM	The committee discussed potential additional committee meetings and field trips and decided upon an additional informational meeting for August.

State Wildfire Spending Update - Committee Discussion Only

04:43:32 PM

The committee adjourned.