Commissioners table Common Ground grant amendment after questions on mastication and invasive species
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Summary
The board considered a request to reallocate $88,000 of common-ground funds for a mastication project in Droney Gulch tied to a Colorado State University forest-resiliency effort. The Citizens Advisory Committee recommended additional review because of concerns about invasive-species management; the board voted to table the amendment for further
Chaffee County commissioners on Tuesday tabled a requested amendment to a 2024 Colorado State University forest-resiliency project after committee members raised concerns about potential invasive-species impacts from mastication work.
Gabe Hopkins, senior planner, told the board the project had met all deliverables and requested permission to use $88,000 in remaining Common Ground funds for mastication in Droney Gulch. The Citizens Advisory Committee recommended further discussion after questions were raised about mitigation for weeds and invasive plants that can follow mastication operations.
"The Citizens Advisory Committee's recommendation is that there should be further discussion on this amendment request due to a concern brought up about weeds and invasive species and how to mitigate those with this type of mastication project," Hopkins said.
A motion to follow the committees recommendation and table the amendment passed unanimously.
Why this matters: Forest fuels-reduction work like mastication can reduce wildfire risk but, if not properly mitigated, can encourage invasive-vegetation growth. The committee asked staff to return with additional information about mitigation measures before reallocating the funds.
Next steps: Planning staff and the Forest Health Council will review mitigation plans and return with recommendations to the board.