Pole Hill Forest Mitigation Project Produces USDA Certified Organic Premium Biochar

A Sustainable Wildfire Mitigation and Regenerative Agriculture Initiative in Colorado

USAgrichar, in coordination with Larimer Conservation District, Summit Forests, and Biochar Now, has successfully completed a first of its kind sustainable fire mitigation and USDA Certified Organic premium biochar project in the Pole Hill area near Loveland, Colorado.

The project site, located at 965 Stone Mountain Ranch Rd., Loveland, CO 80537, consisted of approximately 128 tons of ponderosa pine harvested according to the prescribed forest management plan issued by the Larimer Conservation District in February 2024.

The harvested trees were transported to the Biochar Now production facility for kiln-based pyrolysis biochar production. The entire process was completed under strict National Organic Program (NOP) guidelines and source verified by Where Food Comes From Organic, an industry leader in third-party verification services.

Sustainable Forest Management in a Wildland Urban Interface Area

According to Matt Mueller of the Larimer Conservation District:

“The private property located in a WUI area presented an excellent opportunity for a sustainable forest mitigation site. By identifying areas of concern, improving forest structure and composition, and decreasing hazardous fuels, we were able to make a meaningful impact on forest health and significantly reduce the chance of future wildfires in the Pole Hill area.

This particular project was generously funded through USDA NRCS EQIP, CSFS FRWRM, Peaks to People Water Fund, and Northern Water. Projects like this would not be possible without creativity, collaboration, and problem solving from our funding partners and contractors.”

The initiative demonstrates how proactive forest management and wildfire mitigation strategies can work together with sustainable biomass utilization and regenerative agriculture practices.

Before and after images from the site, along with stockpile photos of harvested logs stored at the production facility, help visualize the scale and impact of the forest management project.

From Wildfire Mitigation to Premium Organic Biochar

The Pole Hill project demonstrates how wildfire mitigation and sustainable forest management can create additional environmental and agricultural value beyond fuel reduction alone.

“A comprehensive, sustainable project of this scope is truly unique,” says USAgrichar CEO David Sechler. “To be able to combine a prescribed fire mitigation activity with source verified feedstock and create USDA Certified Organic premium biochar along with carbon credits showcases how properly planned projects can yield positive, verifiable environmental outcomes that complete the sustainability cycle.”

Benefits and Uses of Premium Organic Biochar

The USDA Certified Organic biochar produced through the Pole Hill project is available for purchase through USAgrichar and can be used for a variety of regenerative agricultural and environmental applications, including:

• Improving soil health and soil structure

• Increasing nutrient capture and water retention

• Supporting microbial soil activity

• Livestock feed supplementation

• Odor control applications

• Carbon sequestration and carbon credit projects

• Sustainable and regenerative farming systems

Advancing Sustainable Agriculture and Forest Stewardship

The Pole Hill project highlights how thoughtful forest management, verified sourcing, and innovative biochar production can create measurable environmental and agricultural value from wildfire mitigation efforts.

As interest in regenerative agriculture, carbon sequestration, and climate smart forestry continues to grow, projects like Pole Hill may help establish new models for sustainable land management across the western United States.