Fort Collins
Colorado expects Fort Collins nursery to produce 1 million to 2 million seedlings annually
More than $15 million in state and federal investment supports expanded greenhouses, shade houses and irrigation. The state says the added capacity is meant to supply trees and shrubs for restoration, watershed protection and habitat work.
Colorado expects the Colorado State Forest Service nursery in Fort Collins to produce 1 million to 2 million container seedlings annually.
The nursery on Colorado State University’s Foothills Campus has undergone a major renovation and modernization intended to expand the state’s capacity for forest restoration and conservation, the state said. More than $15 million in combined state and federal investment supports the new facility. It includes expanded greenhouses and shade houses, improved irrigation systems and a new headhouse intended to modernize and mechanize seeding operations.
The state says the nursery’s output is intended to help meet growing demand for Colorado-grown trees and shrubs used in forest restoration, watershed protection and wildlife habitat improvement. It is also intended to support recovery after wildfires and other natural disasters. “Coloradans depend on healthy forests for clean air, good-paying jobs and the outdoor lifestyle we love,” Governor Polis said.
Polis visited the nursery in 2023 to sign House Bill 23-1060 into law. The bill provided funding to modernize the nursery and its seed storage system, the state said.