Progress at Poncha Pass

Progress and partnership in Colorado's forests meet at the top of Poncha Pass, and homeowners like Rick Shovald have reaped massive benefits.
Here's how the Colorado State Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have used the Good Neighbor Authority program to work with local organizations to combat two forest insects near Salida, where the Decker Fire burned nearly 9,000 acres in 2019. The partnership has reduced wildfire risk for residents and protected recreation spaces, power lines and drinking water in two watersheds.