By order of Sheriff Darren Weekly, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place for unincorporated areas of Douglas County. Ordinance No. O-012-004 restricts open fires, open burning, and the use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County.
By order of Sheriff Darren Weekly, Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are in place for unincorporated areas of Douglas County. Ordinance No. O-012-004 restricts open fires, open burning, and the use of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County.
Douglas County’s Biochar Facility will help process slash from wildfire mitigation projects, advancing regional wildfire resilience
Posted on December 16, 2025 2025News and Events
Douglas County will soon become home to the nation’s first county-operated biochar facility, an achievement that places our community at the leading edge of wildfire mitigation technology. This bold initiative continues to attract attention across the region as partners step forward to support the County’s innovative approach.
At a Business Meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, the Board voted to approve an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Aurora and Douglas County to support the development and operation of the County’s future regional biochar and waste diversion site.
Under the terms of the IGA, Aurora Water will contribute $100,000 toward the establishment of the facility. This agreement reflects a shared commitment to wildfire mitigation, watershed protection, and sustainable land management.
“Douglas County is proud to lead the nation with the first county-operated biochar facility, a milestone that reflects our commitment to innovation in wildfire mitigation and land stewardship,” said Commissioner Abe Laydon, Founder and Chair of the Douglas County Wildfire Action Collaborative. “This partnership with the City of Aurora demonstrates how regional collaboration can produce meaningful, lasting benefits for our residents and our natural environment.”
“Watershed health is a critical issue of our time. Healthy watersheds are vital because they naturally filter and store clean drinking water while helping reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire,” said Alex Davis, Assistant General Manager of Water Supply and Demand at Aurora Water. “Aurora is extremely pleased to be working with Douglas County on a facility that will further our watershed health efforts and support clean drinking water for our community.”
About Biochar
Biochar is a carbon-rich material created by heating woody plant waste in a low-oxygen environment. The process transforms fire-prone vegetation into a valuable resource that improves soil health, filters contaminants, and reduces water use in agriculture and gardening.
Douglas County’s biochar and waste diversion facility will increase the scope and scale of wildfire mitigation, reduce costs for waste removal by improving efficiency, and reduce costs for forest management projects. In the future, the site will also serve as a convenient, one-stop-drop for yard waste, electronics, household chemicals and more.
The facility is expected to open in 2026.
Learn more by visiting our webpage.
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