Date: 08/22/2012
Final
Colorado Forest Health-Prescribed Burns-Wildland-Urban Interface
WILDFIRE COMMISSION
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01:07 PM
The commission returned from recess.
01:08 PM -- Methods of Watershed Protection
Don Kennedy, Environmental Scientist, representing Denver Water, addressed the commission and presented a power point presentation (Attachment G) concerning the methods of watershed protection performed by Denver Water. He discussed the water supply collected by Denver Water for approximately 25 percent of Colorado's population and talked about past wildfires that have harmed the water supply and water treatment systems of Denver Water. Specifically, he discussed the Buffalo Creek Fire, which occurred in 1996, and the severe flooding that occurred after the fire, which damaged the watershed and water quality collected from that area. Mr. Kennedy explained that the Buffalo Creek fire resulted in reclamation costs that totaled $26 million for Denver Water. He also talked about the Hayman Fire in 2002 and the problems that resulted to Denver Water's water supply in Hayman Reservoir. According to Mr. Kennedy, Denver Water owns approximately 8,000 acres surrounding Hayman Reservoir. He discussed the costs of cleaning up severe flooding that was a result of hydrophobic soils from the wildfire. Intense heat from wildfires can cause soils to repel water, known as hydrophobic soils, which reduces the ability for soil to absorb rainfall and run-off, and can result in severe erosion and sediment input into streams and reservoirs. Mr. Kennedy discussed the lessons from major wildfires in watershed areas and the need for water utilities to be more pro-active about protecting watershed areas identified as having high risks of wildfire.
01:30 PM
Mr. Kennedy responded to questions from the commission members concerning the history between Denver Water and the State Forest Service for wildfire management on Denver Water property. He also responded to questions about the agreement with State Forest Service to reduce the wildfire risk on Denver Water property in the North Fork area of Jefferson County, and explained that the majority of fire fuels on the Denver Water property in the area were masticated in 2005.
01:33 PM
Eric Howell, Forest Program Manager, representing Colorado Springs Utilities, addressed the commission and presented a power point presentation concerning the methods of watershed protection implemented by Colorado Springs Utilities. Mr. Howell discussed their forest management plan to protect the watershed areas of the utility from the risks of wildfires. He talked about the agreements between Colorado Springs Utilities and the State Forest Service to reduce the wildfire risks in watershed areas. Mr. Howell discussed funding sources for various watershed protection projects and talked about specific projects currently being implemented in watershed priority areas by the State Forest Service, which performed a prescribed burn for Colorado Springs Utilities. He talked about the objectives of their Prescribed Fire Plan and described both the preparation and implementation of the prescribed burn that was conducted by the State Forest Service. He also discussed current soil erosion problems as a result of hydrophobic soils that resulted from the Waldo Canyon Fire, which occurred in the summer of 2012. Mr. Howell also talked about the need to protect all property within vital watershed areas, including federal, state, and private property.
01:48 PM
Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Howell responded to questions from members of the commission concerning the priority of watershed protection for water utility entities and the need to contract with the State Forest Service to reduce wildfire risks in these areas.