Lazy D Ranch Forest Restoration

Project Background

The Larimer Conservation District and the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed are partnering on this 50 acre forest restoration project at Lazy D Ranch, a 388 acre private property along Fish Creek and the S. Fork of the Cache la Poudre River near Pingree Park, CO. The forest type in the project area is ponderosa pine and dry mixed-conifer.

A whole tree removal treatment will reduce live tree densities to levels nearer historic norms, as well as removing a majority of dead and down fuels.

Forest restoration on the Lazy D Ranch will protect water quality in the South Fork, an important water supply for the City of Greeley, and will complement ongoing Cameron Peak Fire restoration work in the immediate area.

What is mechanical forest restoration?

Mechanical forest restoration involves using heavy forestry equipment to greatly reduce tree densities across all size classes, and increase the size and frequency of forest openings.

Total project area: 50 acres

Timeline: 2023-2024

Partners

• Larimer Conservation District

• Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed

Project Funders

• Colorado State Forest Service

• Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

• City of Fort Collins Utilities

• City of Greeley

• Lazy D Ranch

Project Goals

• Forest health restoration

• Wildfire mitigation

• Habitat and diversity improvement

• Protecting water quality

• Protecting WUI infrastructure

Contacts:

• Dylan Alsbach, dylan@larimercd.org

• Daniel Bowker, daniel@poudrewatershed.org