HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/27/2013 - HIGH PARK FIRE RECOVERY STATUSDATE: August 27, 2013
STAFF: Kevin Gertig
Pre-taped staff presentation: none
WORK SESSION ITEM
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
High Park Fire Recovery Status.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this work session presentation is to provide City Council with a comprehensive
update on the impacts of High Park Fire specific to our watershed.
As requested, staff will continue to provide updates to Council on a routine frequency and present
the current recovery work plan being conducted under the Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) funding program.
This presentation will cover the following topics:
• Background on the High Park Fire
• Recent watershed impacts and debris management challenges
• 2012 work completed
• 2013 work plan
• Financial impacts
• Environmental impacts.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
The presentation will be for informational purposes only and will provide the current work schedule
as well as watershed impacts observed during the monsoon season.
After the presentation, ample time will be allotted for questions and answers from staff.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The High Park Wildfire burned 259 homes and approximately 87,000 acres of forest and private
land west of Fort Collins in June – July 2012. The City of Fort Collins began immediate steps
managing seeding and mulching to decrease sediment debris flows, poor water quality, and recovery
planning.
In August 2012, City Council approved emergency appropriation of $635,000. As the work
continued, there was an additional appropriation of $2.0 million last September for additional
mulching and seeding. The 2013 Budget included $1 million for anticipated, but unidentified capital
improvements related to the fire. Subsequent analysis determined the most effective capital
improvement to be a pre-sedimentation basin at a total cost of $2.1 million. In April of this year,
$1.25 million was appropriated to fully fund the pre-sedimentation basin. The NRCS has $4.375
August 27, 2013 Page 2
million available for the soil remediation and stabilization efforts in 2013 related to this fire. The
City has worked closely with the City of Greeley to optimize the use of those funds to protect the
watershed. The pre-sedimemtation basin is not eligible for the NRCS funds; however, the Tri-
Districts have agreed to reimburse the City for half of the cost of that project in 2014.
It is anticipated that the City of Fort Collins Utilities could experience water quality-related issues
for another 2 – 8 years in the Cache la Poudre River.
Staff has completed an updated intergovernmental agreement for 2013 for the purpose of mulching,
slope stabilization, debris removal and tree felling activities.
The main contract for mulching and tree felling, through the City of Greeley, will begin August 26,
2013 and continue until October 2013. Staff from the City will be involved in quality assurance and
inspections of approximately 1600 acres of land that will be treated in 2013, and continues to be
active in all phases of water quality monitoring, assessments, and emergency preparedness.
FINANCIAL/ECONOMIC IMPACTS
It is imperative that the City of Fort Collins takes a proactive response to help restore the Cache la
Poudre watershed. Our water is essential for public health, firefighting, and maintaining the
economic health in Fort Collins. The City is well known for excellent water quality, which our
residents and businesses depend on.
The High Park Fire continues to have significant financial impact to all water users of the Cache la
Poudre River. The City participated in mulching and seeding of approximately 3000 acres of
private land in 2012, along with the cosponsors, at a total cost to the City of $1.3 million in 2012.
The additional work to be completed in 2013 will bring the total cost to the City for soil stabilization
efforts to $2.8 million, before any NRCS reimbursements. It is expected that the total cost to the
City for soil remediation efforts in 2012 and 2013, after all NRCS reimbursements are received, will
be approximately $750,000. The total cost to the City for the pre-sedimentation basin will be
approximately $1 million, once the Tri-Districts pay the City $1 million for their portion of the
project in 2014. Utility water rates were increased 4% in January 2013 in order to increase operating
revenue by $1 million to pay for capital improvements and increased operation and maintenance
costs associated with increased sediment in the River. Through July 2013, the year-to-date operating
revenue is $1.5M less than that of 2012 through July. Staff will be requesting City Council to
approve an additional 1% rate increase in 2014 for recovery operations and maintenance
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The 87,000 acre fire impacted each watershed area in the Cache la Poudre Watershed. Hydrologists
and City staff have examined each area and rated the severity based on the burned area, as well as
how well vegetation has grown in the spring of 2013.
The environmental impacts include, but are not limited to, possible aquatic life impacts (e.g., fish
and river biology), increased sediment the River banks, which gets suspended with increased flows,
growth of invasive weeds on properties, increase in atmospheric dust particles due to eroded and
burnt soil, increased water treatment costs, and increased costs for sampling, and site visits to
impacted areas. Staff has identified significant sediment erosion on 21 different areas in the Poudre
August 27, 2013 Page 3
Canyon. Of those, there are three top priorities and the cost to improve the sites is estimated to be
$2.7 million.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
Staff has been managing the public outreach for the High Park Fire since July 2012. The extensive
outreach effort has focused on public awareness and education to support customers in managing
the Cache la Poudre watershed. Key efforts to date are:
• Media interviews
• Bill inserts and City News articles
• Utility website with a focus on High Park Fire
• Articles in City and local newsletters, newspapers and other outlets
• Speakers Bureau that has reached over 800 individuals to date both with internal and
external presentations to key customer accounts, landscape contractors, restaurants and
others
ATTACHMENTS
1. Press Release, August 16, 2013
2. Timeline of Activities
3. Powerpoint presentation
Donna Brosemer Lisa Rosintoski, Fort Collins Utilities Suzanne Bassinger
Government & Public Relations Customer Connections Manager Larimer County
Water & Sewer Department 970-416-2432 Fire Recovery Mgr.
970.518.6767 lrosintoski@fcgov.com 970.498.7148,
donna.brosemer@greeleygov.com sbassinger@larimer.org
NEWS RELEASE
August 16, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SUBJECT: High Park Fire mitigation Work to Begin August 18
On August 18, trucks will once again begin hauling tons of certified weed-free straw and wood mulch to
staging sites in Poudre Canyon, where helicopters will drop the material on hillsides that were badly
burned during last year’s High Park Fire. A total of approximately 1,700 acres will be treated this year.
Residents and citizens driving along the Poudre Canyon need to be aware of the helicopters and truck traffic
that will be performing the restoration activities beginning on August 18.
In 2012, a partnership of Fort Collins, Greeley and the Tri-Districts spent $3.5 million to treat 2,600 acres of
the 5,500 identified as the most severely burned. Of that amount, the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) provided $1.3 million. Many of the treated hillsides have begun to regrow and stabilize.
Congress passed legislation in early March to provide Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) funding for
mitigation efforts related to High Park Fire restoration efforts. The EWP funding recognizes that
management of restoration will be performed by co-sponsors, including Larimer County, and the Cities of
Fort Collins and Greeley. As a result, projects that will decrease fire-related impacts, such as, flooding,
mudslides, water quality, etc., are being pursued by the co-sponsors. The NRCS will control the restoration
project management and fund distribution based on agreements with the co-sponsors. Thus, the cities of
Greeley and Fort Collins, along with Larimer County, are partnering to complete the work.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection grant provides 75% of the
cost of watershed mitigation, with local communities providing the remaining 25%. Co-sponsors will work
collaboratively to manage the prioritized projects with a scheduled completion date of December 1, 2013.
Mitigation projects are expected to complete much of the remaining soil stabilization process. Treatment
activities include aerial application of wood mulch in steep slope locations, enhanced mitigation techniques
learned from the Hewlett Fire burn area, debris cleanup in waterways, and protection of identified at-risk
homes and infrastructure. Outcomes of mitigation efforts will minimize mud slides, erosion and water quality
impacts.
#####
ATTACHMENT 1
High Park Fire Mitigation Activities Timeline
June 7
Poudre River offline –
erratic raw water quality
due to rains
June 9
High Park Fire ignites
July 11
High Park Fire
contained
July 25
Completed sponsorship
letter for NRCS to start
federal funding process
Aug. 9
Larimer County Commissioners
approved landowner letters of
permission for Hill Gulch
Aug. 16
Met with Colorado Water
Congress in Steamboat for
financial assistance with
mitigation
Aug. 21
City Council presentation
(re: emergency
appropriation for
June 2012 July August mitigation) September October
Aug. 27
Aerial mulching
begins
Sept. 17
Began drawing water from
Poudre River
week Sept. 24
Shut down Poudre intake
due to rain
week Oct. 1
Drawing water from river
Mulching in progress
Oct. 8
2012 mitigation
work complete
(seeding/mulching)
EWP - Emergency Watershed Protection
NRCS - Natural Resource Conservation Service
Sponsors - Cities of Fort Collins and Greeley and Larimer County
January 2013 February March July August October
Jan. 14
Met with Senator Bennet
Work continues to secure
EWP funding
Congress approves EWP funding
for restoration - $7.2M to be
divided among sponsors based
on work activities
July 29
Fort Collins signs Technical
Assistance Agreement
Mitigation work begins -
1
High Park Fire:
Restoration and Mitigation Update
Kevin Gertig,
Water Resources and Treatment Operations Manager
August 27, 2013
ATTACHMENT 3
2
Presentation Objectives
• Mission
• Background
• High Park Fire Recovery Work
• Concerns
• Mitigation work
• 2013 work plan
• Financial Impacts
• Environmental impacts
3
Mission of the High Park Recovery Team
4
Background
• Lightning strike in the High Park area
• Reported June 9, 2012
• >87,000 acres – low, medium, and high
severity
5
Background: Total Acres Burned
• National Forest Service 42,634
• Other Federal 261
• State 5,022
• Private 39,570
__________________________________
Total Acres Burned 87,487
6
7
High Park Fire Recovery Work:
Watersheds – High Quality Source
Pre-High Park Fire Post-High Park Fire
Photo – Jill Oropeza
8
Gertig
9 Source: High Park BAER Team
10
Hill Gulch
Poudre River
1st Priority
High Park Burn Area Boundary
11
High Park Fire Recovery Work:
Fall of 2012 - Status
• Weather indicated drought plan and restrictions
• We needed more funding!
Completed with award of >$7 Million of EWP
funding
• Did not know how mulch would help
• Needed a presedimentation basin
Completed in June 2013
• Much work to be done
Team assembled
12
High Park Fire Recovery Work:
May – 2013
Note: new plant growth in some areas
13
High Park Fire Recovery Work:
Lessons Learned - Milton Seaman Case Study
14
High Park Fire Recovery Work:
Debris Management:
Investigations by our team
Larimer County Road and Bridge
15
High Park Fire Recovery Work:
Level of Work
• Watershed studies
• Treat Poudre River except for high turbidity
events
• City of Fort Collins is a co-sponsor for watershed
mulch work in 2013
• NRCS and co-sponsors have completed an
updated mitigation plan
• Work begins August 26; staging work August 18
Municipal Operations & Agriculture Diversions
Affected
2012 Sediment Continues to move
16
Concerns:
Transportation and Public Safety Issues
• Debris
• Structures
• July storms
• Debris Skin Gulch
• Monroe Tunnel
17
Concerns:
Debris – Sediment Transfer
Jill Oropeza Lisa Voytko
18
Concerns:
Structures
19
Concerns:
July 28, 2013 – 1 Inch
20
Concerns:
Log Jam Example – MM 106.5
Tony Simons - LCSD
21
Concerns:
July 13, 2013 – Poudre Canyon
22
July 12 storm – 3way rapid area
Photo: Lucas Mouttet
23
July 12 storm – 3way rapid area
Photo: Lucas Mouttet
24
s in Skin Gulch
Photo: Lucas Mouttet
25 Photo: Lucas
Mouttet
06.24 before July 12 storm
Photo: Lucas Mouttet
26 Photo: Lucas
Mouttet
oe Tunnel June 29
Photo: Lucas Mouttet
27 Photo: Lucas
Mouttet
nroe Tunnel June 29
Photo: Lucas Mouttet
28
Cache la Poudre River
Mitigation Work:
Staff Sampling July 12, 2013
29
Mitigation Work:
Presedimentation Basin
30
Randall – May 1, 2013
Mitigation Work:
Presedimentation Basin Construction
31
Photo: Lucas Mouttet
Mitigation Work:
Presedimentation Basin
32
Mitigation Work:
Priorities Established by the BAER Report
Case studies and experts agree: Stabilize the soil
and reduce erosion
Re-apply if storms or wind move material
Most of Hewlett Gulch work (2012) is holding and
doing what was expected (City of Greeley)
– Hill Gulch – Completed
– Boyd Gulch - Completed
– Other smaller areas next to Boyd - Completed
33
High Park Fire Mitigation Areas
City of Greeley
34
2013 Work plan
35
2013 Work Plan:
co-sponsors inspectors (mulch and tree felling)
36
Mulch Areas for 2013 Refined
37
2013 Work Plan:
Hill Gulch – After Seed and Mulch
38
2013 Work Plan:
Future Challenges
• How to deal with future fires in watersheds
– NCWCD currently studying the affects of CBT
• Water rights versus Water Quality
– Mother nature was kind this year
• Debris and sediment – new impacts have been
documented – Brian V et al
39
2013 Work Plan:
Private Property Notifications – 5600 Acres
40
Mulch Drop Hill Gulch 9-1-12 Gertig
2013 Work Plan:
Mulch Drop
41
Financial Summary
2012 Actual Expenses
Seeding & Mulching Costs $1,315,724
Design & install monitoring stations $12,387
Staff time assisting during fire $8,217
Total 2012 Expenses $1,336,328
42
Financial Summary
2013 Actual Expenses Year-to-Date
Study Participation $16,665
Advocacy services $14,024
Staff time- project planning $17,205
Hourly Employee Labor $9,086
Pre-sedimentation Basin $1,500,875
Chlorine dioxide project $141,398
Total YTD (7/31/13) Expenses $1,699,253
43
Financial Summary
2013 Expected Expenses after 7/31/13
Pre-sedimentation Basin $185,000
Seeding & Mulching Costs $1,500,000
Total Additional 2013 Expenses $1,685,000
44
Financial Summary
Expense Reimbursements (and Grants)
To Date:
NRCS 2012 Expense Reimbursement $398,658
FEMA 2012 Expense Reimbursement $7,752
Total Reimbursements to Date $406,410
Anticipated:
NRCS 2013 Expense Reimbursement $1,750,000
NRCS 2013 Technical Grant $90,000
Tri-District Reimbursement for Pre-
sedimentation Basin
$850,000
Total Anticipated Reimbursements $2,690,000
45
Rebuilding our sustainable community…
(wood mulching, tree felling)
September November December January 2014
Mitigation work in progress
January 16
Anticipated completion date
for mitigation efforts
ATTACHMENT 2