High Park Fire Restoration Work Completed
Posted on: Oct-06-2014
Since the 2012 High Park Fire, Fort Collins Utilities has partnered with Larimer County and the City of Greeley on restoration and mitigation efforts needed to decrease fire-related impacts, including flooding, mud and debris slides and impacts to water quality.Utilizing mitigation funding set up for Emergency Watershed Protection from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the accomplishments of this work, conducted on private lands in cooperation with landowners, include:
• over 1,800 acres of wood shred mulching in high-priority areas to reduce hillslope erosion
• approximately 48,000 linear feet of directional tree felling in gulches for additional erosion control
• enhancements for protection of the Poudre River pipeline to meet new flow conditions
All work under the scope of the NRCS High Park Fire – Emergency Watershed Protection Program was completed by August 22.
Vegetative recovery is doing well in most areas. Regrowth has been aided by a combination of the applied mulching and above average moisture in late 2013 and 2014.
At this time, the water quality in the Poudre River is very similar to pre-fire conditions, although storm events still cause erosion and temporary, yet significant, water quality impacts. When the water quality of the Poudre River is impacted, Utilities utilizes water from Horsetooth Reservoir.
Fort Collins Utilities will continue to monitor the Poudre River closely and work with local partners to address post-fire watershed restoration and improve water quality for years to come.
For more information, call 970-426-2529, email utilities@fcgov.com or TDD 970-224-6003.
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Jill Oropeza , Watershed Specialist
- 970.416.2529
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