Collaboration in Watershed Management Mark Shea - Watershed Planning - Colorado Springs Utilities.
-
Upload
jayson-mcdonald -
Category
Documents
-
view
226 -
download
1
Transcript of Collaboration in Watershed Management Mark Shea - Watershed Planning - Colorado Springs Utilities.
Colorado Springs UtilitiesWho We Are
Four-service utility providerElectric, natural gas,
water, wastewaterOver 650,000 customers
Local government oversight
Community-owned non-profit
Rate-based, not tax supportedAnnual operating budget
around $1 billion
Colorado Springs UtilitiesRaw Water System
• Seven major subsystems• Most shared with partners
• 25 Reservoirs & dams• Pipe water over 200 miles from mountains to treatment• Spans over nine counties
Colorado Springs UtilitiesWatershed Lands
• 67 distinct watersheds
• Over 650 sq. mi • ~360,000 acres rural• ~ 150,000 acres urban
• Only 16,000 acres owned• 2,500 acres by U.S. Forest Service Special Use Permits
Colorado Springs UtilitiesWatershed Pressures & Risks
• Increases in development• Increases in public uses• Forest health• Wildfire• Post-fire Conditions• Flooding
Colorado Springs UtilitiesWatershed Management
Strategies• U.S. Forest Service •Memorandum of Understanding• Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration
• State Forest Service• Treat Utilities land•Non-profits & local agencies • Colorado Springs Fire• Coalition for the Upper South Platte ($1M grant)