Plan Manitou | Creating our Future

WILDFIRE RISK SUMMARY

WildfireHazard Areas%

TotalAcres

#ofParcels

%TotalParcels

MarketValueofParcels&

Improvements

%TotalMarketValue

HighRisk 6% 237 9% $27,660,023 5%

ModerateRisk 69% 1,122 41% $236,415,489 46%

ModeratetoHighestRisk 75% 1,359 50% $264,075,512 51%

Sources:ElPasoCountyAssessor(dataaccessedon06/07/16); ColoradoWildfireRiskAssessment(CO-WRAP)Portal-https://www.coloradowildfirerisk.com/

Current Exposure Analysis

EvacueesheadingeastonHighway24towardsManitouSprings,June24(THEDENVERPOST|

HelenH.Richardson)

Critical Facilities & InfrastructureHighRisk ModerateRisk

• ManitouSpringsMiddleSchoolandHighSchool

• SomestructuresintheHighRoad,Midland,andPeakViewhistoricdistricts

• ManitouSpringsElementarySchool• PublicServicesdepartmentbuilding• CrystalHillswaterstoragetank• ManitouSpringsLibrary• ColoradoSpringsUtilitieshydropowerplant• CityrawwaterintakelineandManitouReservoir

Key Vulnerabilities• Nowildfiremitigationcodes – Riskwillincreaseifnewdevelopment,redevelopment,andinfrastructureexpansionoccursinhighhazardareaswithoutwildfiremitigationandsafetystandardsinplace.

• Highriskofbuilding-to-buildingignition– Highdensity,olderhousingconstructionexistsinwildfirehazardareasandmodificationshaveoccurredovertimewithoutadequateregulation.

• RuxtonCanyon– Manyassetslocatedinareasdifficulttodefendandevacuate.AwildfireinRuxtoncouldnegativelyimpactthelocaleconomyandthewatershed,increasingrisktoflashflooding,erosion,andlandslides.

• PeakViewNeighborhood– Highdensity,olderbuildingconstruction,low-incomeresidents,inadequateregulation,steeptopography,highfuelloads,difficultvehicleaccess,andinsufficientwatermainlinesizestoprovideadequatefireprotectionallcontributetoahighlyvulnerablearea.

• Sourcewaterprotection– WildfirealongrawwaterlineorwithinsourcewaterprotectionareacouldaffecttheCity’swatersupplyandwaterquality.

• Unlawfulcamping– EncampmentsintheNationalForestandopenspaceareasareagrowingproblemandhavebeenasourceofpastignitions.

Mitigation Action IdeasLocalPlansandRegulations

• AdoptaCommunityWildfireProtectionPlantocollaborativelyprioritizeareasforwildfiremitigation

• Designatehighriskareasthroughawildlandurbaninterfacezonewherespecificconditionsforsafedevelopmentapply

Structure andInfrastructureProjects

• Createdefensiblespacearoundcriticalfacilitiesandinfrastructure• Retrofitexistingstructureswithignition-resistantmaterials

NaturalSystemsProtection

Managehazardousvegetativefuelsincityparksandopenspace

EducationandAwareness

• ParticipateintheFirewiseCommunitiesProgramtohelpeducatepropertyownersonmitigationstepstheycantake

• Developpartnershipswithneighborhoodgroupsandhomeowners’associationstoconductoutreach

Left:TheWaldoCanyonwildfireonaridgewestofManitouSprings,June25(AP|EdAndrieski)

Right:PolicecordonattheentrancetoManitouSpringsonColoradoAve,

June24(THEDENVERPOST|HelenH.

Richardson)