Jefferson Conservation District

08/27/2026

Fire scars 101:
When grass-driven ground fires reach trees with grass, needles, and woody debris accumulated at the base of the tree, those fuels can ignite and in turn ignite the tree itself.

If the fire doesn’t burn through the bark around the entire circumference of the tree, the tree may survive and bark can regrow over the scar.

In this photo of a ponderosa pine, two fire scars are visible.

08/20/2026

Thanks to Nick (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service) and Emily (Boulder Valley and Longmont Conservation Districts ) for assisting JCD in cultural resource surveys. Surveyors walk in evenly spaced parallel transects across the hillside to ensure that the entire area has been visually surveyed for cultural artifacts.

07/24/2026

5 Saws & Slaws events. 64 volunteers. More than 500 cubic yards of slash chipped and hauled. 🌲💚
Thanks to funding from the IAFC IAFC Ready, Set, Go! Fuels Reduction Award, these community work parties brought neighbors together to reduce wildfire risk, help one another, and strengthen wildfire resilience across Coal Creek Canyon. Thank you to every property owner, volunteer, Community Ambassador, and partner who made this summer such a success. Here’s to keeping the momentum going! 🔥

USDA Forest Service City of Arvada United Power

07/22/2026

Due to staffing and equipment limitations, along with the significant volume of material received at this location, the Elk Creek Elementary SLASH Yard will be closed this weekend (Thursday-Sunday). This closure will help ensure we can continue to operate the SLASH program safely, efficiently, and sustainably while working through the current backlog. Residents are encouraged to continue to go to Tincup Ridge SLASH Yard (101 Rooney Rd., Golden) Friday-Sunday, and Marshdale (26624 N Turkey Creek Rd, Evergreen) beginning July 30. Please visit our website at www.jeffco.us/SLASH for the full schedule. We apologies for any inconvenience, thank you for your understanding.

07/22/2026

Elk Creek Elementary SLASH yard is NOT open this weekend. Please go to Tin Cup!

Due to staffing and equipment limitations, along with the significant volume of material received at this location, the Elk Creek Elementary SLASH Yard will be closed this weekend (Thursday-Sunday). This closure will help ensure we can continue to operate the SLASH program safely, efficiently, and sustainably while working through the current backlog. Residents are encouraged to continue to go to Tincup Ridge SLASH Yard (101 Rooney Rd., Golden) Friday-Sunday, and Marshdale (26624 N Turkey Creek Rd, Evergreen) beginning July 30. Please visit our website at www.jeffco.us/SLASH for the full schedule. We apologies for any inconvenience, thank you for your understanding.

07/22/2026

Ever wonder where all those ballons that fly away end up? Most of them find a final resting place in the woods as trash, and disintegrate over time into microplastics.
They are occasionally found and thrown away into the landfill, but most of them pollute our natural ecosystems for a long time!

07/22/2026

Thank you Foothills Fire Protection District for the invitation to the Pancake Breakfast last weekend, we had a great morning!

We did have to hold down the tent as Flight for Life came in for a landing though - no emergencies that morning, just stopping by for breakfast.

07/22/2026

In November 2023, Jefferson, Larimer, Boulder Valley, and Longmont Conservation Districts were awarded $10.8 million to install conservation
practices through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Periodic funding announcements will be made to solicit applications until the funding is spent down. This funding is similar to other NRCS programs and is available to private and non-federal lands with private lesees.

This is the second announcement; at least one more announcement will be made. Applications can be submitted any time and will be batched and ranked with the other applications received by that application deadline. This round’s application deadlines is 8/14/2026.

Refer to the flyer for information on eligible projects for this funding!

Link to the announcement is below for a full version of the post and flyer.

https://jcd.colorado.gov/news-article/regional-conservation-partnership-program-2nd-funding-announcement

Apply for funding on this google form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8NXlzCo2QE-1nOdkYx-Y0T8LMKxHXGrTuw87rotZpS9KbXw/viewform

06/23/2026

🔥 COMMUNITY WILDFIRE and EVACUATION PREPAREDNESS MEETING & OPEN HOUSE 🔥

📅 Wednesday, July 8, 2026
🕕 Open House: 6:00 PM
🕡 Presentation: 6:30 PM
📍 Conifer High School Auditorium/Cafeteria

If a wildfire threatened your neighborhood tomorrow, would you know what to do?

Join Conifer Wildland Division, Elk Creek Fire, Conifer Fire, and community partners for an evening focused on wildfire preparedness, emergency notifications, evacuation planning, and practical actions you can take before an emergency occurs.

Using local examples—including lessons learned from the Quarry Fire—we'll explore how Planning Units support emergency notifications, evacuation planning, and community wildfire preparedness, while helping residents build a practical plan for themselves, their families, pets, and livestock before an emergency occurs.

Open House Activities
✅ Find out what Planning Unit you live in
✅ Sign up for Lookout Alert and emergency notifications
✅ Visit preparedness and community resource tables
✅ Learn about resources available for people, pets, and livestock

Presentation Topics
• Understanding local wildfire risk
• Lessons learned from the Quarry Fire
• Understanding Planning Units and why they matter
• Emergency notifications and trusted information sources
• What a wildfire evacuation may realistically look and feel like
• Creating a personal evacuation plan for your household and animals

Whether you've lived here for decades or recently moved to the area, this event will provide practical tools, resources, and information to help you prepare before the next wildfire emergency.

Bring a neighbor and join us.



Conifer Fire Dept
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Lesley Dahlkemper


Jefferson Conservation District
Jeffco Open Space, CO

Jefferson Conservation District
Conifer High School

06/23/2026

Tin Cup Ridge Slash Yard
151 S. Rooney Rd, Golden, CO 80401
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
9am-4pm
May 15-Oct 25

Elk Creek Elementary
13304 US HWY 285, Pine, CO 80407
Thursday-Sunday
9am-4pm
June 4-July26

Please arrive no later than 3:30 PM to allow time for unloading.

Drop off woody debris, tree branches and limbs, but please remember that we can only accept detached pine needles at the Elk Creek Elementary location.

Thank you all!