Values-at-risk program: PWS wildfire preparedness

Colorado’s Source Water Protection Program works with the Colorado Rural Water Association to implement a wildfire-focused values-at-risk program. This program provides GIS services to public water systems (PWS) at no cost to identify, digitize, and collect important information about infrastructure assets and source water operations. This data is securely stored with the WQCD, shared with the USFS through an MOU with the Region 2 Office, and included in the federal Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS).

The VAR Program supports PWSs participating in the CWCB Wildfire Ready Watersheds Program. The data and resulting information are included in Wildfire Ready Action Plans (WRAP). These plans are prepared before fires occur to identify assets and values, assess susceptibility to hazards, and inform risk reduction projects and long-term planning. The data is also then available during a wildland fire incident to better protect infrastructure and support water resources operations and water supplies needed for firefighting activities, especially at the wildland urban interface (WUI).

PWSs should contact Jackson Reagan at the Colorado Rural Water Association for more information or to participate in the program.