News

Fort Collins Utilities has joined with Larimer County, city of Greeley and the Tri-Districts to serve as sponsors in watershed recovery efforts following the High Park Fire west of Fort Collins. Fort Collins Utilities’ primary role is to manage water quality and the health of the watershed that provides the city’s drinking water. This includes the Poudre River and Horsetooth Reservoir.

Earlier in the week, the partners sent a letter to the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) expressing their willingness to sponsor recovery efforts. Under the federal agency’s Emergency Watershed Protection program, federal funds can cover up to 75 percent of mitigation costs of qualifying projects with local partners paying the balance.

Currently, the partners are working with NRCS on the initial damage assessment survey. A NRCS report is expected in the next several days.

In the meantime, Utilities is monitoring water quality in the Poudre River to determine potential contaminants from debris and sediment runoff in the burn area and their treatability at the water treatment facility.

Utilities will use the flexibility of proven water treatment processes, various raw water resources and staff expertise to meet or surpass federal and state regulations for drinking water quality.

To learn more about Fort Collins' drinking water quality, visit http://fcgov.com/water-quality. For more information, visit http://fcgov.com/utilities, call (970) 221-6700, e-mail or TDD (970) 224-6003.