Wildfire Planning Indiana Creek Watershed Breckenridge, Colorado Prepared for: The Town of Breckenridge P.O. Box 168 Breckenridge, CO 80424 Prepared by: 130 Ski Hill Road, Suite 100 Breckenridge, CO 80424 October 2015 Wildfire Planning Indiana Creek Watershed Breckenridge, Colorado Prepared for: The Town of Breckenridge P.O. Box 168 Breckenridge, CO 80424 Prepared by: 130 Ski Hill Road, Suite 100 Breckenridge, CO 80424 October 2015 Cover photograph: Goose Pasture Tarn and Indiana Creek watershed top left, Hayman watershed lower right Wildfire Planning: Indiana Creek Watershed Breckenridge, Colorado Wildfire Planning: Indiana Creek Watershed Breckenridge, Colorado Table of Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Report Organization ...................................................................................................................... 1 Watershed and Geomorphic Characteristics of Indiana Creek ............................................................. 3 2.1 Water-quality Impacts from Wildfire............................................................................................ 3 2.2 Watershed Characteristics ............................................................................................................. 5 2.3 Hydrologic Impacts ....................................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Sediment and Debris Flow Estimates ........................................................................................... 7 2.5 Post-Wildfire Mud Flow Routing Analysis .................................................................................. 8 Pre-wildfire planning and strategies ................................................................................................... 11 3.1 Removal of Trees ........................................................................................................................ 11 3.2 Indiana Creek Road (FS 593) ...................................................................................................... 14 3.3 Sediment Basins .......................................................................................................................... 14 3.4 Other Pre-wildfire Planning Considerations ............................................................................... 15 3.4.1 Spruce Valley Ranch ........................................................................................................... 15 3.4.2 Cultural Resources .............................................................................................................. 15 3.4.3 Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................... 15 3.5 Permitting .................................................................................................................................... 16 3.6 Summary of Pre-wildfire Recommendations .............................................................................. 16 Burned-Area Emergency Assessment ................................................................................................ 17 4.1 Potential Critical Values and Threat Identification ..................................................................... 17 4.1.1 Human Life and Safety ....................................................................................................... 17 4.1.2 Property and Infrastructure ................................................................................................. 17 4.1.2.1 Homes and Structures ................................................................................................. 17 4.1.2.2 Breckenridge Water Treatment Plant .......................................................................... 17 4.1.2.3 Overhead Electric Transmission Line ......................................................................... 18 4.1.2.4 Station House and Ken’s Cabin .................................................................................. 18 4.1.2.5 Roads ........................................................................................................................... 18 4.1.2.6 Mines ........................................................................................................................... 18 4.1.3 Natural Resources ............................................................................................................... 19 4.1.3.1 Water Supply............................................................................................................... 19 4.1.3.2 Riparian Habitat and Floodplain ................................................................................. 19 4.1.3.3 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................... 19 4.1.4 Cultural and heritage resources ........................................................................................... 19 4.2 Risk Evaluation ........................................................................................................................... 19 i Wildfire Planning: Indiana Creek Watershed Breckenridge, Colorado Potential Emergency Response Strategies ......................................................................................... 21 5.1 Emergency Stabilization Treatments .......................................................................................... 21 5.1.1 Erosion Barriers .................................................................................................................. 21 5.1.2 Reseeding ............................................................................................................................ 21 5.1.3 Mulch .................................................................................................................................. 22 5.1.4 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................... 22 5.1.5 Non-native Invasive Control ............................................................................................... 23 5.1.6 Channel Treatments ............................................................................................................ 23 5.1.7 Detention Basins ................................................................................................................. 23 5.1.7.1 Debris Flow Check Dams ........................................................................................... 23 5.1.7.2 Sediment Basin ........................................................................................................... 24 5.1.8 Wildlife Management ......................................................................................................... 27 5.1.9 Facilities .............................................................................................................................. 27 5.1.10 Utilities ................................................................................................................................ 27 5.1.11 Emergency Access Road Reconstruction ............................................................................ 27 5.1.12 Public Use Management ..................................................................................................... 27 5.1.13 Removal of treatment .......................................................................................................... 27 5.1.14 Monitoring .......................................................................................................................... 28 5.2 Permitting .................................................................................................................................... 28 References .......................................................................................................................................... 30 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Indiana Creek site map. ...................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2. Indiana Creek watershed delineation. ................................................................................. 6 Figure 3. Site map with cutting units and recommended pre-wildfire improvements. .................... 13 Figure 4. Site map with cutting units and recommended pre-wildfire improvements. ............. Error! Bookmark not defined. Figure 5. Risk matrix which may be used to evaluate the risk level for each value identified during the Assessment (Exhibit 2 of the FSM 2520; USFS, 2012). ................................. 20 Figure 6. Site map with potential sediment basins. .......................................................................... 25 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Clear-water peak flow estimates for Indiana Gulch. ........................................................... 7 Table 2. Debris Volume Estimates for Indiana Gulch (Elliot et al., 2010). ...................................... 8 Table 3. Comparison of USGS sub-watersheds and BFHFP cutting units. .................................... 12 Table 4. White River National Forest seed recommendations. ......................................................