a clear & present dangertangentlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/1-opening-address... ·...
TRANSCRIPT
Wildfire’s threat to water in the Western United States
A Clear & Present Danger
Waldo Canyon Fire2012
Waldo Canyon Fire
• 2nd most destructive
fire in state history
• Burned 18,247 acres
of land
• 347 homes were
destroyed
• 2 casualties
• Cost $20 million to
contain
Waldo Canyon Fire2012
Wildfire & Terrorism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFHM0rd9cX8
Black Forest Fire2013
Black Forest Fire
• Most destructive fire
in state history
• 511 homes were
destroyed
• 2 casualties
• Cost $9.3 million to
contain
Hayman Fire2002
Hayman Fire$42 million dollars in firefighting costs, 133 homes, 138,114 acres
Hayman Fire2002
CheesmanReservoir• Directly serves 2
million people in
Denver area
• Hayman Fire burned
8000 acres adjacent to
the reservoir
• 56% of the burned
area drains directly
into the reservoir
• As of 2012, Denver
Water has spent $28
million dollars in
remediation
South Platte River after Hayman Fire
At the burn site Downstream
Greater ImplicationsFire and the Colorado River
Colorado River• 2/3 of surface water
generated in Colorado
is legally obligated to
downstream users
• Provides drinking
water for 40 million
people
• Southern California
receives 60% of its
water from the
Colorado River
Water in the West
Colorado Firefighting Air Corps
SB13-245
• Provided for the
creation of the
Colorado Firefighting
Air Corps
• Funding was made
discretionary
• Black Forest Fire
started one month
later
Next Steps
• Three type 1 helicopters for 2014 fire season
• Four C-130s (retrofitted for firefighting) by 2015 fire season
• CFAC Center of Excellence