HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 7/20/2021 - Memorandum From Mark Kempton Re: 2021 2Nd Quarter - Post- Fire Water Status Update
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: July 14, 2021
TO: Mayor Arndt and Councilmembers
FROM: Mark Kempton, Interim Utilities Deputy Director
THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kelly DiMartino, Deputy City Manager
Theresa Connor, Interim Utilities Executive Director
RE: 2021 2nd quarter - Post-Fire Water Status Update
Bottom Line:
In response the Cameron Peak Fire, Fort Collins Utilities continues to coordinate water supply,
water quality, possible water shortage response and post-fire watershed recovery strategies to ensure
a holistic and thoughtful approach to best serve our communities water needs. Some key updates
include:
x We have experienced flash flood and erosion events where ash and sediment wash into the
Poudre River following monsoon storms over the burn scar. During these events, the Water
Treatment Plant has the operational agility to switch to Horsetooth Reservoir supplies. It is
likely we will periodically go off the Poudre River, relying solely on Horsetooth Reservoir for
periods of time over the next several months.
x Water Production staff are very experienced in how to handle these types of events and there
have been no impacts to our finished drinking water quality.
x The City’s water quality monitoring network, along with and being closely connected with
Larimer County/Sherriff’s Office communications network, has helped greatly.
x Aerial mulching and related hillslope stabilization operations are scheduled to begin in the
Cameron Peak burn area the week of July 16.
Please see Attachment A for funding and cost details. Attachment B provides a watershed recovery
timeline.
Please continue to visit the Fort Collins Utilities Water Status website (fcgov.com/water-status) for
the most up to date information.
CC: Liesel Hans, Interim Utilities Deputy Director
Gretchen Stanford, Interim Utilities Deputy Director, Customer Connections
Jill Oropeza, Director Water Quality Services
Donnie Dustin, Utilities Water Resources Manager
Mariel Miller, Water Conservation Specialist
City of Fort Collins Water Commission
Attachment A
Watershed and Water Treatment Costs and Funding Graphic
POST-WILDFIRE WATERSHED RECOVERY 2021 City Cost AllocationWATERSHED RECOVERY $4M Total | $1.37M Committed • $832K: EWP City match • Aerial mulching around Barnes Meadow, Hourglass and Comanche Reservoirs and 13 other high-priority areas• Aerial mulching 1,666 acres of additional high priority area• Post-fire flood protections• $500K: CWCB City match• $42K: CPRW EWP Project Management• $623K: Anticipated in-kind staffing and labor contribution in lieu of monetary match (in addition to $5M appropriation)• $504K: Sediment removal, hauling and disposal• Additional water treatment chemicals• Increased water treatment solids handling• Water treatment and watershed studies• Water shortage and watershed recovery outreach• ContingencyWATER OPERATIONS$1M Total | $504K Committed$5M APPROPRIATIONfrom City water fundCOST SHARING• $35M-$45M: Estimated cost for approved watershed recovery projects• Funding sources: Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, local water providers, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW), Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)• Funding to date:• $5.4M from EWP• $1.7M from CWCB• Local matching funds• Anticipated funding:• $5M from EWP (expected in 2022)• $10M-$13M from CWCB (expected July or August 2021)• Intergovenmental agreement (IGA) with City of Greeley and Larimer County to cost share the EWP 20% match requirements.Last update: July 12, 2021*35-$45M is the initial scope of work based on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) approval at this time.Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. INITIALRECOVERY COST$35M-$45M*
Attachment B
Watershed Recovery Timeline
UtilitiesPOST-WILDFIRE WATERSHED RECOVERY TimelineAUG. 13 Cameron Peak Fire ignitesDEC. 2 Fire containedJAN. 12 Fire ControlledNOV. 12 Initial BAER summaryDEC. 17Final BAER summaryFEBRUARY - APRIL Prioritization and planning of post-firerestoration projectsAPRIL • Ground-truth initial assessment priorities• Preliminary design• Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) pending USFS green light• Spring runoff began• Water Shortage Watch began April 29MAY • NRCS EWP project approval• USFS project approval• Contractor selection• Spring runoff continues• First flash flood and erosion event on the Poudre and Water Treatment Facility off Poudre River water periodicallyJUNE • County structure protection projects• EWP structure protection and flood control projects on private lands• Reservoir protection projects• Mulching stockpile site selection and USFS approval• Mulch harvesting and stockpiling • Monsoon season began• Flash flood and erosion events and Water Treatment Facility off Poudre River water periodically JULY • Aerial mulching projects begin• County and reservoir projects • Continued funding requests• Monsoon season continues• Flash flood and erosionevents and Water Treatment Facility off Poudre River water periodicallyAUGUST - OCTOBER• Active treatment project phase• Initiate preliminary 2022 design plan WINTER 2021-2022• Evaluate 2021 treatments• Continue 2022 design plan • Continued funding requests999999Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. 7/21999