Landscape recovery after Rio Blanco County fires could take 1-5 years

Rio Blanco County planning around economic and agricultural hits following Lee and Elk Fires

The Lee Fire is now 99% contained after burning 137,748 acres. Now, Rio Blanco County is starting to see the true economic and agricultural impacts of the fifth largest wildfire in Colorado history.

Landscape recovery after Rio Blanco County fires could take 1-5 years

Long-term recovery of the landscape from the large footprint of damage caused by two wildfires in Rio Blanco County may require one to five years of repair efforts from nature, landowners and multiple agencies, according to a lead resource advisor. Water, soil erosion and land health are the top post-fire priorities currently determined by the on-site resource advisor team members, said Wendy Parker, team lead and U.S. Bureau of Land Management …