Colorado congressional delegation urges US Forest Service chief to release funds for state forestry and wildfire preparedness

Colorado congressional delegation urges US Forest Service chief to release funds for state forestry and wildfire preparedness

Colorado State Forester Matt McCombs says he breathed a sigh of relief this week as the U.S. Forest Service signaled it would release millions of dollars of federal funds that support state forestry, including wildfire preparedness programs. The federal funds — known as a consolidated payment grant — support close to one-third of the Colorado State Forest Service’s budget most years, McCombs said. But this year, the federal payment has yet to co…