NEDERLAND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN Prepared for: Nederland Fire Protection District and Timberline Fire Protection District Nederland, Colorado Submitted by: Anchor Point Group Boulder, Colorado May 2011 Nederland FPD CWPP 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................... I TABLE OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................................ III LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................................................... IV EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................... V TAKE HOME MESSAGE .............................................................................................................................................. VI HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT ................................................................................................................................ VI INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 THE NATIONAL FIRE PLAN AND THE HEALTHY FORESTS RESTORATION ACT........................................................... 2 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Other Desired Outcomes .................................................................................................................................................... 3 COLLABORATION: COMMUNITY AND AGENCIES .................................................................................................... 4 STUDY AREA OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................ 5 DEFINING THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE .......................................................................................................... 6 VALUES AT RISK ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 LIFE SAFETY AND HOMES ........................................................................................................................................... 8 COMMERCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE ......................................................................................................................... 8 Economic Values ................................................................................................................................................... 8 Critical Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................................ 8 ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES .................................................................................................................................. 9 Watershed and River Concerns ............................................................................................................................. 9 CURRENT RISK SITUATION ................................................................................................................................... 10 RELATED HISTORICAL WILDFIRE HAZARD PROJECTS ............................................................................................... 13 MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE ......................................................................................................................................... 14 OTHER AGENCY TREATMENTS ................................................................................................................................. 15 FIRE BEHAVIOR DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................................ 17 FUELS ....................................................................................................................................................................... 17 WEATHER ................................................................................................................................................................ 21 TOPOGRAPHY .......................................................................................................................................................... 22 LOCAL PREPAREDNESS AND FIRE DEPARTMENT CAPABILITIES ............................................................................ 23 NEDERLAND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ................................................................................................................ 23 Training ............................................................................................................................................................... 24 Water Supply ....................................................................................................................................................... 24 Recommendations .............................................................................................................................................. 24 TIMBERLINE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ................................................................................................................ 25 Training ............................................................................................................................................................... 25 Water Supply ....................................................................................................................................................... 25 Recommendations .............................................................................................................................................. 26 i Nederland FPD CWPP 2011 COMMUNITY ANALYSIS AND SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................. 27 PURPOSE ................................................................................................................................................................. 27 COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 29 WUI COMMUNITIES IN NEDERLAND ....................................................................................................................... 32 1. Big Springs ................................................................................................................................................................... 32 2. Bonanza ....................................................................................................................................................................... 36 3. Cold Spring................................................................................................................................................................... 39 4. Comforter Mountain ................................................................................................................................................... 42 5. East Big Springs ............................................................................................................................................................ 46 6. Eldora .......................................................................................................................................................................... 50 7. Five Points ................................................................................................................................................................... 53 8. Haul Road .................................................................................................................................................................... 56 9. St. Antons .................................................................................................................................................................... 59 10. St. Antons West ......................................................................................................................................................... 63 11. Shady Hollow ............................................................................................................................................................. 67 12. Whispering Pines ....................................................................................................................................................... 71 13. Beaver Creek ............................................................................................................................................................. 75 14. Hurricane Hill ............................................................................................................................................................. 77 15. Indian Peaks/Caribou Ridge ....................................................................................................................................... 79 16. North Nederland.......................................................................................................................................................