Colorado's arguably worst-ever wildfires in recent years left behind devastated landscapes of torched trees, charred woody remains, and large amounts of debris. Then came the torrential rains of 2013, unleashing an entirely new kind of disaster.

Unfortunately, fires and floods go hand-in-hand. While powerful afternoon rainstorms are a regular part of Colorado's summer, with fewer trees and shrubs to absorb the moisture or slow the runoff, our state is now at an increased risk of flooding, debris flow, and mudflows for several years. We've made great strides in helping our state recover and plan for the future (last year, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado dedicated 35% of its volunteer opportunities to flood and fire recovery); however, there is still plenty of work to be done.  

"Recent natural disasters that have occurred close to communities are affecting us much more severely than if they were just happening in a wilderness area where there is less people. And it's not just the burn; it's what happens afterward," said Ann Baker Easley, executive director of Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC). "This year, VOC will continue to devote significant volunteer efforts in areas still in need of restoration work, helping to rebuild stronger and smarter to help prevent further damage." 

The physical aid of VOC volunteers enables public land agencies to get a lot of work accomplished without having to directly pay for it. "When we get volunteers out on the ground, it's actually valued monetarily in terms of the amount of work that's accomplished. VOC is able to accomplish more on a weekend with 40 volunteers than a public land agency may be able to accomplish in a year due to their limited amount of employees and funding," said Easley.

It didn't take long for the significant contributions of VOC volunteers to be felt at Jefferson County's White Ranch Park. "With the floods, we had four parks that were damaged. One particular trail has been closed since last September. Without the help of VOC, it would not have been possible to open up this trail as quickly as we did; we would've been extending this out until 2016," said Jason Crum of Jefferson County Open Space.  

Watch this video to learn more about VOC's flood and fire restoration efforts and the importance of our volunteers, especially in the aftermath of disaster. Stay tuned for flood and fire restoration projects in our upcoming 2015 project calendar and on our website this spring!