The Casper City Council agreed Tuesday to pursue grant funding for a new wildfire response plan targeting city-owned lands on Casper Mountain, citing the relatively dry winter and growing fire risks in the wildland-urban interface.
The council voted during a work session to partner with Lark Environmental Inc. on an application for the Climate Smart Communities Initiative grant. If awarded, Lark Environmental would lead development of a Wildfire Resilience and Response Readiness Plan at no cost to the city, said Zulima Lopez, director of Casper Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities.
The plan would focus specifically on city assets within the high-risk mountain area, including Hogadon Basin Ski Area and various recreational facilities. Lopez said the city and Lark considered other environmental priorities—stormwater runoff and park improvements—but settled on wildfire planning due to the dry winter outlook.
The effort is designed to complement, not duplicate, an ongoing update to the Natrona County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. By focusing on gaps outside the county’s scope, the city aims to create a practical framework for forest management and emergency access tailored to its specific properties.
A key component involves evaluating fire suppression water supply constraints—a critical need given limited water sources on the mountain. The project would inventory existing water sources and identify strategic options to improve reliability, such as new storage concepts or operational strategies, to inform future capital planning.
The grant also requires developing a funding roadmap to help the city secure future state and federal grants for mitigation work, and partnering with a community-based organization to involve local stakeholders.
The final application is due March 12. The council will formally vote on the partnership at a future meeting.
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