If you’re new to Colorado and the inter-mountain West, and you’re longing for those lush, green lawns that are so plentiful east of the Mississippi, we’ve got news for you. Much of Colorado is High Plains and relatively arid. What doesn’t fit that description is mountainous, with lots of snow in the winter and spring, monsoonal storms in the summer, and drought in the fall. Turf-style lawns, such as Kentucky Bluegrass, just don’t cut it here. A water-wise investment that looks as beautiful as turf can be had, according to the Denver Post: (more…)

Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
Field bindweed is a List C vining perennial in the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). Known to be in North America since the 1700s and in Colorado since 1872, it was introduced as a contaminant of seed. It can now be found in all 50 states.
Field bindweed is native to Eurasia and Asia and naturalized in many other parts of the world. It has a thick taproot that can grow to 20-30 feet deep, with multiple horizontal rhizomes that have buds to form new plants. Plants can easily regrow from root fragments.
The root mass can reach 2.5 to 5 tons per acre. The trumpet shaped flowers form in the leaf axis. Flowers form from late spring until frost. The 1-inch-wide flowers are white to pink and have two small bracts that form .5 to 2 inches below the flower. Each flower produces a roundish fruit that contains two to four seeds. The seeds can stay viable in the soil for 20+ years.
Field bindweed stems are around five feet long. They are twisted and are either prostrate or can climb and cover other plants, fences, and structures. The 2-inch long and 1-inch-wide leaves are alternate, simple and arrow shaped, smaller towards the ends of the stems. A serious pest in wheat and bean crops, it also invades vineyards, orchards, degraded range lands, landscaped areas, and lawns. Field bindweed can harbor plant diseases (potato X disease, tomato spotted wilt, and vaccinium false bottom).
Control can be done using cultural techniques and/or systemic herbicides. It requires persistent efforts over multiple years. The bindweed gall mite, Aceria malherbae, has shown some good success in areas that are grazed or mowed.
Countywide Wildfire Efforts & Resources 2022 (video)
To: C.A.R.E. Delegates, Friends, Fire Departments, Community members concerned about wildfire issues…
WHAT: C.A.R.E. Quarterly Meeting Featuring Jeffco Director of Open Space-Tom Hoby, Director of Transportation and Zoning-Abel Montoya, and Director of Federal Grants-Mary O’Neal, leading a conversation on Wildfire mitigation and evacuation issues and funding.
WHEN: Wed November 9th, 2022
WHY: C.A.R.E. exists in unincorporated Jefferson County. Jefferson County and the Board of County Commissioners is the first level of government over the entire CARE area; they facilitate significant State and Federal funding on wildfire matters as well as evacuations and rules relating to wildfire mitigation.
We welcome you to view the presentation at https://youtu.be/w8DxZ1K6Tlo.
We value your feedback, please leave comments on this page or contact us at WildfireChair@carejeffco.org.
WILDFIRE REGULATION UPDATE HEARINGS FALL ‘22
Jefferson County Planning & Zoning has scheduled public hearings for Phase 2 of the Wildfire Regulation updates. Hearings will be held as follows:
- Planning Commission – Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 6:15 pm
- Join the hearing from our Hybrid Hearings web page.
- Board of County Commissioners – Tuesday, October 4, 2022, 8:00 am
- Join the hearing from our Meetings & Agendas web page.
Lookout Alert 2022
CodeRed is now LookoutAlert.
The company name hasn’t changed; LookoutAlert is a new, different service that’s taking over from CodeRed. By the end of June ’22, CodeRed will no longer be sending out alerts. Instead, LookoutAlert will do that job. (more…)
KNOW YOUR FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT (interactive)
Here’s a question for you: how many Fire Protection Districts are there in the inter-mountain area of Jefferson County, the area covered by C.A.R.E.? (more…)
Wildfire Safety Guide, California Know-how
Wildfire preparedness – have you done it yet? Ya, me neither.
We live in wildfire country, we each mean to get around to it, and then life interferes…so let’s start again. (more…)

2022 Firework Sales Ban in Jeffco
This morning, Dave Hammond, the head of our CARE Wildfire Committee, spoke in front of the Board of County Commissioners on behalf of CARE, supporting the ban on fireworks sales in unincorporated Jeffco. (more…)
Kitty Pring Wildfire Mitigation Presentation
Kitty Pring discusses wildfire mitigation for community organizations and how to secure grants to put a fire mitigation plan into action.