Colorado pledges 75% cost-share for emergency watershed work, saving Pueblo County roughly $1M

Trevor Denney, director of the Colorado Office of Emergency Management, told commissioners the governor has approved an increased state cost share to 75% of the local share for emergency watershed protection projects.

Denney said the change is intended to help counties recovering from recent fires and related flood hazards, including private-property debris removal and hazardous-tree mitigation. "The governor has authorized us to increase our cost share to 75% of the local share," Denney said, adding that the change will save the county about $1,000,000 on watershed protection work.

Commissioners thanked Denney and his office for state support during the Aspen Acres fire recovery and for ongoing partnership with county staff and first responders. Denney opened for questions; commissioners expressed appreciation and noted the funding would assist with immediate public-safety tasks such as hazard-tree removal and debris cleanup.

The board did not take formal action on this announcement; it was presented as information and a state-level funding commitment.