Mark Shea Watershed Planning Supervisor August 23, 2012
Fire Started: Saturday June 23, 2012
Fire Progression June 23 2500 acres June 24 3600 acres June 25 4500 acres June 26 15622 acres June 27-28 16750 acres June 29 17073 acres June 30 17650 acres July 1-6 18247 acres
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
USFS BAER Team Burned Area Response Team Multi-disciplinary Inter-agency Rapid assessment of fire impacts Develop, recommend & implement initial treatments
USFS BAER Soil Burn Severity Low 7,856 acres Moderate 7,286 acres High 3,375 acres Unburned 842 acres
Low 7,586 (41%)
Moderate 7,286 (40%)
16 Waldo Canyon Fire
High 3,375 (19%)
18 Waldo Canyon Fire
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
USFS BAER Team Treatments
Impacts and Restoration Flood Flows Sediment Erosion Water Quality Watershed Stabilization Reforestation 21
22 Waldo Canyon Fire
Northfield Drainage 23
Northfield Drainage Flood Damage Caretaker s House Access Road 24
W. Monument Creek Canyon 25
Northfield Water System Damage Northfield Pipeline Pine Valley Pipeline 26
Pine Valley/McCullough Impacts Debris & Storm Flows Erosion & Sedimentation Pipeline Vaults Diversion Dam 27
Sedimentation Impacts Culverts and Crossings 28
Water Quality Impacts 29
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
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
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
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
BAER Team Treatments Northfield Area
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
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
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
Pikes Peak Watershed Forest Management Plan Pikes Peak Collection System Plan developed in 1986 16,000 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
Pikes Peak Forest Management Plan
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
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
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
Item V-A Governance Monitoring Report Questions? Colorado Springs Utilities Catamount Wildland Fire Team Making a Difference in the Community