WALDO CANYON FIRE RECOVERY A MARATHON JOURNEY FOR REGION



The Waldo Canyon fire may have been over a year ago, but the remnants of last year remain and continue to threaten our community. The recent flash flood events in Manitou Springs and up Ute Pass are enough to demonstrate that we're not out of danger related to post-fire impacts. And, I consistently am asked as I meet with folks what's being done to help prevent the flash flooding that destroyed homes and businesses and created an unsafe situation for motorists up Highway 24 west, resulting in the untimely death of one Teller County resident. So I want to share with you, some of the emergency watershed projects that are taking place up above the City of Manitou Springs and the downhill communities of Cascade and Chipita Park, both located in unincorporated areas of El Paso County.

  Recently, I participated in a media tour of the work that continues in the upper watersheds of the Waldo Canyon fire burn scar.  We were able to provide information on detention basins, mulching, and hillside stabilization projects that help protect the lower parts of the canyons as Mother Nature heals herself through regrowth of vegetation.  The group was able to visit a series of detention basins being constructed in the canyons that slow the water down and spread it out; lessening the destruction downstream.  Estimates indicate these basins kept over 11,900 tons of debris from entering the lower parts of the canyons in the past week.  As with any large issue, this effort takes cooperation.  And we have plenty of that in El Paso and Teller Counties.  There has been a huge collective effort since the fire that involves private partners, non-profit groups, and City, County, State and Federal governmental agencies.  Together, our Waldo Canyon Fire Regional

Recovery Group (WCRRG) has garnered over $30 million of combined funding that is being utilized this year.   It is a big job that will continue for many years.  We are all in this together, and are in it for the “long haul”.   While we can’t be certain how much rain will fall and where, we can be absolutely assured that we will work together to continue to move forward.

Here are some useful Links from the media tour. In addition, I'll be working to update you on being prepared for flooding, flood clean up and more about what's being done by various entities to protect our downhill communities by reducing sediment and flows from the burn scar damage resulting from the Waldo Canyon Fire which took place in 2012.

Channel 9 News

KOAA Channel 5

KKTV Channel 11

KRDO Channel 13

Fox 21 KXRM

Colorado Springs Gazette

Fox YouTube

FOR DISASTER AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION, vist www.ElPasoCO.com 

POST DISASTER INSURANCE INFORMATION: www.UPHELP.org

Regional Efforts Impact Wildfire Recovery Funding Approval

The efforts of regional and in this case, statewide and national groups have finally paid off for Colorado and many other states with the approval of Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Thanks to El Paso County's local partnerships with the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance, the City of Colorado Springs, the City of Manitou Springs, the Town of Green Mountain Falls, Colorado Springs Utilities and a long list of community and non-profit partners, there has been success in securing federal dollars to assist with post-Waldo Canyon fire and flood mitigation.  It also underscores how important it has been to work working alongside the Larimer County Commissioners, Colorado Counties, Inc., the Colorado Municipal League and the National Association of Counties. I wanted to share with you, a press release that was recently distributed on behalf of the Coalition.  I'll continue to voice my support for needed mitigation dollars and champion healthy forest initiatives that seek to manage our forests and resources more wisely, in order to prevent future fires like the Waldo Canyon (El Paso County) and High Park (Larimer County). Many thanks to our Colorado Congressional delegation members from both the U.S. House and Senate who have worked so hard to make these EWP funds available to our state.

 -Sallie Clark, El Paso County Commissioner District 3, Colorado

 

Regional Coalition – Funding for Wildfire Recovery and Flood Prevention Group Praises Efforts of Unified Colorado Congressional Delegation

Colorado Springs, CO, March 21, 2013 – Final Congressional approval of $65.5 million for watershed repair and flood mitigation projects in several states means the critical funding is now included in legislation sent to the President for his signature. Members of the Regional Coalition for Strategic Federal Action have been in constant contact with Colorado’s Congressional delegation for months in an effort to secure $17.6 million in additional federal funds for mitigation projects in El Paso and Larimer counties.  The Waldo Canyon Fire in El Paso County and the High Park Fire in Larimer have dramatically increased the risk of flash flooding this spring and summer.

“Members of Coalition could not be more encouraged by this great news for our friends and neighbors most impacted by the Waldo Canyon fire,” said Stephannie Finley of UCCS who serves as coordinator for the coalition.  “Our community came together and worked tirelessly with members of the Colorado Congressional delegation and our Colorado Congressional delegation pulled together in a wonderfully bi-partisan way.   In addition we forged a valuable partnership with Larimer County resulting in an effective Front Range coalition for Colorado.”   Members of the Coalition also noted the exceptional leadership of Commissioner Sallie Clark, Mayor Steve Bach, and Councilman Val Snider in securing this badly needed funding.

The U.S. Forest Service, State of Colorado, El Paso County, City of Colorado Springs Colorado Springs Utilities and volunteers from the Coalition for the Upper South Platte have funded assessments and initial design work to identify erosion control, detention and drainage channel improvements which are critical to reduce the risk of large scale mudslides and flash flooding.  Some of the most urgently needed projects have already been completed.

El Paso County continues to work with private landowners, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), School District 14 and others to protect the City of Manitou Springs and Highway 24 West from significant erosion and flooding issues which also threaten lives and property in the Ute Pass areas of Chipita Park and Cascade.

The City of Colorado Springs and Colorado Springs Utilities have identified projects needed to reduce flooding, sedimentation and debris flow impacts Colorado Springs municipal water supply.  Facilities to collect, store and transport raw drinking water for approximately 70% of city residents were severely impacted by flooding which occurred during a typical summer rain a few weeks after the fire was brought under control.

The money can also be used for qualified flood control projects on private lands and to protect significant structures such as Glen Eyrie Castle and the Flying W Ranch.

Once the bill has been signed by the President, the funds will be transferred to the U.S. Department of Agriculture which administers Emergency Watershed Protection funds.  It is estimated that the funds could be available for already approved mitigation projects in El Paso County about three weeks after it is approved by the President.

The Regional Coalition for Strategic Federal Action is a group comprised of 12 private & public organizations working with the Washington lobbying firm of Mehlman, Vogel & Castignatti to address high priority issues for all residents of El Paso County. 

LOCAL AND STATE COLLABORATION WORKS TO SECURE FUNDING FOR COLORADO' S POST-FIRE MITIGATION EFFORTS




Highway 24 West after the July 30th storm event post Waldo Canyon Fire

A collaborative effort which includes the Board of the El Paso County Commissioners has sent a letter to all members of the Colorado Congressional delegation urging them to support $19.8 million in requested funding for Colorado Emergency Watershed Protection. The Supplemental Appropriation for Disaster Assistance legislation under consideration in the House of Representatives supports recovery for Super Storm Sandy but does not include funding for mitigation efforts in the disastrous Waldo Canyon and High Park wildfires in Colorado.

We have been working collectively behind the scenes to secure additional funding for fire mitigation. To date, El Paso County and Colorado Springs have received approximately 1.2 million in Emergency Watershed Protection dollars to fund necessary project and protect precious lives and properties in eminent danger of flooding post fire. But that amount is far short of the amount approved for our state and necessary for both Waldo Canyon and High Park restoration efforts to prevent and reduce future flooding due to the burn scar areas. Be assured that there is a collaborative effort in communicating our local concerns to both our State and Congressional delegation.

The letter highlights urgent needs in areas affected by the Waldo Canyon burn scar including:

*El Paso County is working with private landowners, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), School District 14 and others to protect the City of Manitou Springs and Highway 24 West from significant erosion and flooding issues which also threaten lives and property in the Ute Pass areas of Chipita Park and Cascade.

*The City of Colorado Springs and Colorado Springs Utilities need additional funding to reduce flooding, sedimentation and debris flow impacts on facilities critical to collecting, storing and conveying raw drinking water to approximately 70% of city residents.

*Additionally, the Navigators and Flying W Ranch need additional funds to protect public and private facilities, including significant historic structures such as Glen Eyrie Castle.
If EWP funding for the Colorado wildfire recovery not included by amendment to Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Assistance the process will become much more difficult and the outcome more uncertain.

In addition to the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, the Colorado Springs Mayor’s Office, Colorado Springs City Council, Regional Business Alliance, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, Larimer County Commissioners, City of Greeley, Town of Green Mountain Falls, City of Manitou Springs, Colorado Springs Utilities, Colorado Counties Inc., and the Colorado Municipal League are all signatories on the letter.