Waldo Canyon Fire. Mark Shea Watershed Planning Supervisor August 23, 2012

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Carmel Thornton
10 years ago
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1 Mark Shea Watershed Planning Supervisor August 23, 2012

2 Fire Started: Saturday June 23, 2012

9 Fire Progression June acres June acres June acres June acres June acres June acres June acres July acres

10 Fire Contained: Tuesday July 10, 2012 Total Acres: 18,247 Ownership National Forest 14,422 acres Department of Defense 147 acres Private 3,678 acres

11 USFS BAER Team Burned Area Response Team Multi-disciplinary Inter-agency Rapid assessment of fire impacts Develop, recommend & implement initial treatments

12 USFS BAER Soil Burn Severity Low 7,856 acres Moderate 7,286 acres High 3,375 acres Unburned 842 acres

13 Low 7,586 (41%)

15 Moderate 7,286 (40%)

16 16 Waldo Canyon Fire

17 High 3,375 (19%)

18 18 Waldo Canyon Fire

19 Energy System Fire Damage 34.5kV Power Line ~24 poles compromised Restoration work underway Stabilization of hill slopes needed to protect line from future damage 19

20 USFS BAER Team Treatments

21 Impacts and Restoration Flood Flows Sediment Erosion Water Quality Watershed Stabilization Reforestation 21

22 22 Waldo Canyon Fire

23 Northfield Drainage 23

24 Northfield Drainage Flood Damage Caretaker s House Access Road 24

25 W. Monument Creek Canyon 25

26 Northfield Water System Damage Northfield Pipeline Pine Valley Pipeline 26

27 Pine Valley/McCullough Impacts Debris & Storm Flows Erosion & Sedimentation Pipeline Vaults Diversion Dam 27

28 Sedimentation Impacts Culverts and Crossings 28

29 Water Quality Impacts 29

30 Water Quality Impacts PAST (Right after Fire & Storm Events) Major ash and sediment flows in creeks Increases in Dissolved Iron & Manganese levels in reservoirs and stream intakes Slight increase in Total Organic Carbon and Lower ph Never exceeded a Maximum Contaminant Level under Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) 30

31 Water Quality Impacts CURRENT (In Between Storm Events) Typical dissolved Iron & Manganese levels in reservoirs and stream intakes Slight increase in Total Organic Carbon and Lower ph No exceedances of Maximum Contaminant Levels 31

32 Water Quality Impacts CURRENT (After Storm Events) Increase of sediment downstream (however ash is decreasing) Slight increase in dissolved Iron & Manganese in reservoirs and stream intakes Slight increase in Total Organic Carbon, Lower ph, and alkalinity No exceedances of Maximum Contaminant Levels under SDWA 32

33 Water Quality Impacts FUTURE (Expected) Same impacts as current Waldo Canyon Fire (Action: Investigating application of Potassium Permanganate at source water intakes) A higher increase of Total Organic Carbon (Action: Investigating application of granulated activated carbon at Water Treatment Plants) Potential for increases in nutrient levels (Action: Increased monitoring and treatment evaluations) No exceedances of Maximum Contaminant Levels under SDWA 33

34 BAER Team Treatments Northfield Area

35 Next Steps to Protect Systems & Resources Watershed Stabilization and Restoration Obtain Approvals for Work on US Forest Lands Partner with Experienced Agencies Implement Immediate Storm Flow & Sediment Stabilization Assess & Repair Infrastructure Stabilize Watersheds Additional Hill Slope & Drainage Treatments & Reforestation Evaluate Funding Alternatives Waldo Canyon Fire

36 Goals of CSU Forest Management Program Protect water supplies, infrastructure, & system reliability Conduct forest treatments to Improve forest health Reduce wildfire hazards Meet other natural resource objectives Invest in healthier forests rather than costly restoration and system repairs Pre Treatment Post Treatment

37 CSU Forest Management Program Primary Elements: Forest Management and Restoration: Responsible for CSU managed properties Assist with efforts on federal lands Wildfire Suppression: Local and regional planning and coordination Utilization of CSU Wildland Fire Team to protect CSU assets Pre & Post-Fire Planning: Waldo Canyon Fire Assessment of critical watersheds, priorities, opportunities, and constraints Advance Prescribe Fire Program Complete and maintain forest treatment investments

38 Pikes Peak Watershed Forest Management Plan Pikes Peak Collection System Plan developed in ,000 acres Work conducted through cooperative agreement CSFS Management Goals: Less Susceptible to Wildfire Protect and Enhance Water Resources Protect Water and Electric Infrastructure Enhance Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat, Scenic and Recreational Amenities Budget - $250,000 annually

39 Pikes Peak Forest Management Plan

40 USFS Forest Collaborative Partnership Catamount Project Treatment of 23,000 acres CSU funding EA & implementation Formalize CSU/USFS partnership Treatments and restoration Suppression Restoration Funding Potential projects Tennessee Creek EA Monument Creek EA Waldo Canyon Fire

41 CSU Wild Land Fire Team 26 Member team created pursuant to USFS cooperative agreements Provides initial attack suppression Autonomy to protect Utilities assets Mutual aid resource for others Supports prescribed fire program

42 CSU Prescribed Fire (Rx) Program Rx Objectives: Reintroduce fire back into the natural forest ecology Promote forest health and resiliency Maintain prior forest treatment efforts and investments Cost effective treatment Excellent live fire training Agency collaboration

43 Item V-A Governance Monitoring Report Questions? Colorado Springs Utilities Catamount Wildland Fire Team Making a Difference in the Community

Healthy Forests Resilient Water Supply Vibrant Economy. Ecological Restoration Institute

Healthy Forests Resilient Water Supply Vibrant Economy Ecological Restoration Institute How Water Gets to Your Home MOST OF THE VALLEY S WATER SUPPLY comes from winter precipitation and runoff from Arizona