HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 10/26/2021 - Memorandum From Mark Kempton Re: 2021 3Rd Quarter - Post-Fire Water Status Update (Cameron Peak Fire) (4)M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: October 21, 2021
TO: Mayor Arndt and Councilmembers
FROM: Mark Kempton, Interim Utilities Deputy Director
THROUGH: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager
Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager
Theresa Connor, Interim Utilities Executive Director
RE: 2021 3rd quarter - Post-Fire Water Status Update
Bottom Line:
In response to the Cameron Peak Fire, Fort Collins Utilities continues to coordinate water
infrastructure, water supply, water quality, and post-fire watershed recovery strategies to ensure a
holistic and thoughtful approach to best serve our community's water needs. Some key updates
include:
To date in 2021, the City’s Water Treatment Facility has been off of the Poudre River due to the
Cameron Peak Fire for a total of 56 days, relying solely on Horsetooth Reservoir during these
times.
Thirty-nine (39) of those days occurred since July, with 22 of those days due directly to the
Black Hollow flood event on July 19. In a normal year, the number of days off the river is
typically zero to 1 days for the summer months.
Water Production staff continue to demonstrate expertise and agility in handling these types of
events, and there have been no impacts to our finished drinking water quality.
As of Sept.10, aerial mulching operations in the Poudre Watershed are complete for 2021. In
total, the regional team of partners mulched just over 5,000 high priority acres of primarily
United States Forest Service lands.
For the remainder of the fall, the partners will focus on the implementation of eight different
hillslope and stream restoration projects to reduce impacts of post-fire sediment erosion and
improve water quality. Planning for spring and summer 2022 will be convened during the winter
months.
Funding sources to date include approximately $25,200,000 from:
o Federal - $9,600,000
o State - $12,300,000
o Local - $3,300,000
Sediment removal and stream flow redirection work will take place this coming winter at the
City’s Poudre River water intake to prevent current and future river sediment from impacting
our water supplies.
Through continued coordination with our federal and state delegates, we are optimistic for an
Agriculture Committee portion of the Budget Reconciliation bill, that includes $275 million for
the Emergency Watershed Protection Program to help communities address damages to
infrastructure caused by natural disasters, including floods and fires that impair watersheds.
The voluntary Water Shortage Watch ended on Oct. 1, 2021, pursuant to Fort Collins City Code
Section 26-167(a) and the Water Shortage Action Plan (WSAP), due to improving water
resource conditions and less demand on water supplies with irrigation season ending. In spring
2022, staff will evaluate water availability and the potential for a water shortage next year.
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
Attachment B
Watershed Recovery Timeline