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• Recreational fishing and scenic viewing along the South Fork Poudre River has been <br />greatly impacted by the fire. Biologists have determined that sedimentation and run -off <br />from the fire will stress the river environment for the next several years. <br />An emergency for recreation (trails, recreation sites, and <br />recreation residences) was determined for Human Life and Safety <br />and Property. The probability of loss is Very Likely and the <br />magnitude of consequence is Major. Therefore, the risk is Very <br />High. <br />Water Diversion Infrastructure <br />Three municipal water supply diversions lie within the burn perimeter. These diversions provide <br />water for the City of Fort Collins, the City of Greeley, and the Tri- Districts. Each entity operates its <br />WTP separately; however there is interconnectivity through water transfers. These facilities are at <br />increased risk of damage due to debris and sediment accumulating at the intakes which are all <br />located on the Poudre River. <br />The eastern perimeter of the fire is bounded by Horsetooth Reservoir, the largest east -slope <br />reservoir of the Colorado -Big Thompson Project, and the Hansen Supply Canal, which delivers <br />water from Horsetooth Reservoir to the City of Greeley WTP at Bellvue and water to the Cache <br />La Poudre River. Horsetooth water is also delivered to agricultural users via the Poudre. These <br />facilities are also at increased risk from post -fire runoff and sedimentation. <br />Additionally there are 18 irrigation diversion structures on the Poudre River that could be <br />impacted by increased debris and sediment flows. These 18 structures provide irrigation water <br />through 441 miles of canals which supports over 100,000 acres of irrigated cropland in Larimer <br />and Weld County. Sediment deposition can be expected to occur in some irrigation canals. <br />An emergency for water diversion infrastructure for the facilities <br />on the Cache La Poudre River was determined for Property. The <br />probability of loss is Very likely and the magnitude of <br />consequence is Moderate. Therefore, the risk is Very High. <br />NATURAL RESOURCES <br />Water Quality Degradation <br />Soil erosion and subsequent large sediment increases are predicted throughout and downstream <br />of the burn area. An emergency for water quality degradation was determned for the following <br />reasons: <br />Large sediment increases are expected. These increases will be of short term duration, <br />recovering to pre -fire conditions over time with the worst impacts occurring over the next <br />three to five years. During this time there is high potential for degradation of source water <br />quality for the city of Fort Collins, the City of Greeley, and the Tri- Districts (North Weld, <br />East Larimer -Fort Collins) which all utilize water from the Poudre River. There will likely <br />be significant impacts to public water supplies due to sediment increases and reduced <br />water quality. All of these water providers also use Horsetooth Reservoir as an alternate <br />water supply to the Poudre River. The fire has also affected a portion of the area in Lory <br />State Park and private lands that drains directly into Horsetooth Reservoir. <br />High Park Fire Emergency Stabilization Plan Page 11 <br />