A workshop hosted by Dolores Watersheds Collaborative gathered residents and representatives across federal agencies, local government, aquatics research and forest management Wednesday to discuss wildfire resilience and post-fire risk.
Large, square maps spanned the Dolores Community Center walls, where color codes indicated risk severity and labels highlighted “values at risk.”
The topic at hand discussed and collected feedback for the Dolores Watersheds Collaborative’s Wildfire Ready Action Plan. The plan, called the WRAP, is being developed at the local level and covers the Upper Dolores watershed area, which encompasses roughly 666,630 acres.
The WRAP has been in the works for about 18 months. It is being drafted by the Dolores group, its partners in forest management, technical advisers and with assistance from Olsson consultants, who led the modeling analysis.
Part of the WRAP assesses areas most vulnerable to post-fire dangers, such as major flooding or debris flows. The WRAP will also serve as a guide for future projects both before wildfires, with mitigation, and after to lessen post-fire hazards.
Jeff Sickles with Olsson said Wednesday areas identified as vulnerable involve the confluence of the West Fork and the main stem of the Dolores River – or also called “The Forks” locally.
Other areas in the draft show community assets for Dolores and Rico townships as susceptible but officials during the meeting noted vulnerabilities exist across the watershed.
Nina Williams, the Dolores Watersheds Collaborative coordinator, said the WRAP will be finalized by Sept. 30. The group plans afterward to move into project implementation.
A final plan presentation is scheduled for the public on the same day, for 1:30 p.m. at the Dolores Community Center, 400 Riverside Avenue.
Williams said projects described in the final version can be both for private and public lands, so private property owners who are interested in river and floodplain restoration can contact her via email, nina@dwrfcollaborative.org, or find more information on the website.
“This program has really brought folks together, from forest agencies to stream management and hydrology,” Sickles said.
He added that for attendees, the purpose Wednesday was to “mine your expertise today” to incorporate into the final plan.
Participants raised questions about whether old mines will be included in mapping. They expressed concern about the potential for post-fire flooding to interact with abandoned mine hazards and increase the risk of contaminated water. Williams said there was also feedback regarding potential project opportunities in the Fish Creek watershed, which is an important contributing basin to the watershed.
“We had some good feedback on making sure we were analyzing impacts to Colorado Highway 145 and West Fork Road – County Road 38 – to make sure we are looking at those as critical assets because of potential debris flows,” Williams said.
Some people pointed out accessibility for those roads is critical for residents but also in the event of debris flows, which could make them inaccessible when emergencies are taking place. Williams said the input suggested more collaboration with Colorado Department of Transportation.
“Each of those are things we will be looking at in more depth and coordinating,” Williams said.
The WRAP will be one of a couple dozen in the state through a program with Colorado Water Conservation Board. A WRAP is also being developed for Mancos. Williams said the program came about after severe flooding impacts to Northwest Colorado.
“I think the overarching theme is other areas in the state in the west have experienced post-fire flooding impacts to life and property. If we can be thinking ahead and are able to do restoration projects, that is really the goal of this,” Williams said.
awatson@the-journal.com
