Just beyond Nederland, pine forests climb the slopes along Middle Boulder Creek. Supported by Boulder County Parks & Open Space, the Boulder Watershed Collective, Wildfire Partners, and private landowners, the Middle Boulder Creek Fuels Reduction Project aims to thin dense forests, reduce fuel loads, and protect communities and water supplies from catastrophic wildfire. “It’s not just a forestry project — it’s also about being a good neighbor,” said Michael Agena, forestry specialist with Boulder County Parks & Open Space. Some residents and ecologists argue that thinning forests does more harm than good, degrading ecosystems while offering little real protection from the fires that most threaten mountain communities. “We’re thinking about habitat, water, and resilience.”As wildfires grow hotter and more destructive, Boulder County faces a question.