The federal government is contributing $950,000 towards flood-mitigation projects relating to the 13,000-acre Lake Christine Fire burn area.
Burned soil doesn’t absorb rain and snow, which increases flooding risk.
Basalt, Eagle County and the Division of Wildlife received the grant from the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, a federal agency dedicated to helping communities recover from natural disasters.
The money will be used to do things like grade hillsides and build retaining walls to protect private property from flooding and debris.
The federal money makes up three quarters of the project cost; it’s up to the local agencies to make up the remaining money.
