Researchers at Colorado State University are working to restore forests scorched by the Cameron Peak Fire, the largest wildfire in Colorado's recorded history, which burned more than 200,000 acres in 2020.

A CSU team is studying how to restore the burn scar, and so far researchers are finding seedlings struggle more at lower elevations than at higher ones. The research focuses on understanding which species are surviving in the burn scar and why. As one researcher on the team described the core question: "Our work is trying to understand...what seedlings should we be planting in these post-fire environments, and how are they living, how are they dying, things like that."

The team is also testing whether specific treatments can give seedlings a better chance of survival, including planting a subset of seedlings using nitrogen supplements and hydrogel to help with initial establishment. Researchers said they are still evaluating those interventions. "We're hoping to see if those types of treatments actually do benefit planted seedlings," a team member said.

The research is ultimately intended to help land managers make smarter decisions about where and how to replant — finding "the right balance of reforesting in areas that need attention" while preserving areas already regenerating on their own.

Water security is among the most critical reasons to prioritize forest restoration, with one researcher noting that "forests are really important for our water for sure," alongside the cultural and aesthetic value Coloradans place on their forested landscapes.

The team views the effort as part of a long arc of land stewardship. "Every forest in Colorado is a post-fire forest. Just how long it's been since that fire is a part of its history," a researcher said.

The CSU study is ongoing, and researchers have not yet released findings on whether the nitrogen and hydrogel treatments produce measurable improvements in seedling survival rates.