Wildfire Recovery
Since 2012, the Poudre River Watershed has experienced several historically large wildfires: The High Park and Hewlett Gulch Fires burned 95,172 acres in the Poudre watershed in 2012 and the Cameron Peak Fire of 2020, which became the largest wildfire in Colorado’s recorded history, burning over 208,000 acres and destroying 492 structures.
CPRW continues to complete post-fire recovery and restoration work on land burned by both the High Park and Hewlett Gulch Fires and, since 2020, is coordinating and implementing post-fire restoration projects related to the historic Cameron Peak Fire.
Recent Large Wildfires in the Cache la Poudre Watershed
Large wildfires such as the Cameron Peak Fire can produce a well-known suite of water quality, river health, and life/safety impacts. Loss of tree canopy and decreased soil infiltration rates dramatically increase surface runoff and erosion, causing severe debris flows and flooding.
According to the United States Forest Service (USFS) Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) report, 36% of the Cameron Peak burn is high to moderate severity and they are ‘nearly certain (90% - 100%)’ that water quality will be impacted by post fire debris flows, run-off, ash flows, sedimentation and nutrient loading within 1-3 years following the fire. Six water supply storage areas are in or adjacent to the burn area, as are other critical watershed values.
Featured Projects
Cameron Peak post-fire Recovery & Restoration
The purpose of CPRW’s Post-Fire Recovery & Restoration Program is to mitigate the negative impacts of wildfire to high-priority watershed values, including water quality and supply, river ecosystem function and health, and community protection and resilience.
Seaman Reservoir Delta Stabilization Project - Hewlett Gulch Post-Fire Restoration
The Hewlett Gulch Fire in 2012 burned in high severity above Milton Seaman Reservoir which is owned and operated by the City of Greeley.
Skin Gulch - High Park Post-Fire Restoration
The Skin Gulch watershed was severely burned during the High Park Fire followed by severe summer rains in 2012, 2013 & the 500+ year flood in September 2013.
Unnamed Tributary 3 - High Park Post-Fire Restoration
Unnamed Tributary 3 (UT3) is a 210-acre sub-watershed that was severely burned in the High Park Fire. UT3 is located above the Poudre River, CO HWY 14, and near the Munroe Tunnel.