City Works with Xcel to Balance Tree Pruning for Wildfire Resilience with Ecological Health

Boulder, Colo. - This month, Xcel Energy (Xcel), will begin wildfire fuel reduction work within the city. Tree pruning and vegetation management work is being conducted and funded by Xcel Energy with the goal of reducing wildfire risk and improving the sustainability and reliability of electric infrastructure.

For planned work within the public street rights-of-way, Xcel crews have worked closely with the City of Boulder's Forestry staff to identify which trees will be impacted. There has been careful consideration of the balance between removing limbs and maintaining a healthy canopy and natural habitat. The only trees identified for removal are those in poor condition or poor location; no specimen trees will be removed. Xcel will also be in areas working with private property owners on mitigation surrounding electric lines; Xcel will notify property owners prior to starting work on their properties.

This wildfire resilience work is essential to continue providing utility services to Boulder and improve safety during severe weather events.

The city and Xcel continue to explore longer-term solutions for sustainability and resilience, such as undergrounding, but the immediate act of improving the management of trees around power lines is a step in the right direction for the safety of the community.

You can learn more about the work that the city is doing around wildfire resilience at bouldercolorado.gov/WildfireReady.