In Colorado during the spring of 2012, wildfires burned more than 100,000 acres of land, and more than 600 homes in the Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs and the High Park Fire near Fort Collins. These fires critically damaged watersheds that supply city drinking water sources. They also impacted habitat for wildlife and fish species such as the endangered greenback cutthroat trout.
The 2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree project is helping bring light to this burn restoration challenge. The non-profit organization Choose Outdoors is with working with the Forest Service and other partners to re-seed burned areas, stabilize stream banks, and help the forest recover.
We will soon be accepting donations to help with this effort. Your support will be put to work in 2013 to provide materials and supplies and bring volunteers to the burn sites to aid in recover efforts.
