The Great Outdoors Colorado board has awarded two grants totaling $153,025 for projects in El Paso County.
Green Mountain Falls was awarded $82,200 to hire Mile High Youth Corps-Southern Front Range crews for fire mitigation and forest health work.
The city of Colorado Springs was awarded $70,825 for trail improvements in Austin Bluffs Open Space and habitat improvement and restoration in Smith Creek Open Space.
Green Mountain Falls is one of the highest fire-risk zones in Colorado. Working with the local fire protection district and private landowners, the town will partner with MHYC-SFR crews for eight weeks to advance efforts to build a continuous, two-mile-long fuel break around the community.
Crews will thin undergrowth to reduce potential fuels across an estimated 8-12 acres to restore the public open space into a more aesthetically pleasing, park-like environment that exhibits a healthy native habitat and supports local wildlife.
Information: GOCO.org.