C150347 Feasibility Study

• Contract/PO #: C150347
• Contractor Name: Greeley, City Of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 3
• County: Larimer
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

HIGH PARK EMERGENCY STABILIZATION BURNED AREA REPORT
SUMMARY
Starting on June 9, 2012 and until containment was achieved on July 1, 2012, the High Park
Fire burned over 87,200 acres on multiple land jurisdictions. It is the largest and most
destructive fire in the history of Larimer County, destroying 259 homes and cabins and
disrupting the lives of hundreds of residents. Potential aftereffects include increased flooding,
erosion and threats to human life and safety, property and natural and cultural resources.
Of the burned acres within the fire perimeter, 32,302 burned at a low severity; 35,399 at a
moderate severity; and 5,714 at a high severity. More than 14,000 acres within the perimeter
were unburned. An interagency Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team has identified
possible treatments for the High Park Fire burn area. This report summarizes watershed
information, areas of concern, values at risk and proposed treatment. Emergency treatments
considered include land treatments, road and trail treatments, protection /safety treatments, and,
for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), cultural resources.
The team was comprised of resource specialists from the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS), Larimer County, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the U.S.
Forest Service (USFS). BAER teams consider potential immediate post -fire impacts to critical
values of. human life and safety, property, natural resources, and cultural and heritage
resources (see Table S-1). Risk is assessed based on the magnitude of the consequences and
probability of damage or loss to any of these critical values (see Table S -2).
The USFS is responsible for addressing concerns on National Forest System lands. The NRCS
has an ability to help address concerns on non - Federal lands in partnership with willing private
landowners and local sponsors who are able to provide funds to match federal funding through
the Emergency Watershed Protection Program.
Aerial mulching is proposed to stabilize burned hillslope areas on both National Forest System
(NFS) and private lands. Areas planned or proposed for aerial mulching to reduce erosion are
in high and moderate soil burn severity and on slopes between 20% and 60%. They are also
strategically located in areas where life, safety, or property is at risk or where there is high risk
to public water supply.
Aerial mulching is planned for 5,597 acres on NFS lands. Other planned treatments /responses
on NFS lands include road repairs or closures; temporary closures of areas, including USFS
trails; warning signs; noxious weed detection and treatment; hazardous tree cutting (of
immediate threats); and trail stabilization.
Possible treatments for private lands include aerial mulching and seeding of an additional 5,657
acres; barriers or other measures to reduce damage from sediment and other debris; clearing
channels and drainageways; warning signs, and increasing the size of culverts on County roads
and providing some protection from erosion to reduce the risk of flood flows overtopping and
washing out portions of these roads.
In total, this BAER assessment has identified approximately $24 million in potential emergency
stabilization treatments to address impacts of the High Park fire. Approximately $17 million in
possible treatments is identified for public roads and private lands. Approximately $9.9 million
High Park Fire Emergency Stabilization Plan Page S -1