Loveland details wildfire steps to protect electric and water systems

The City of Loveland says it has taken year-round steps to protect electric infrastructure and water supplies from wildfire damage, citing work by Utilities crews and partner agencies before, during and after recent fires.

In a news release posted July 31, the city said its utilities team activated during the 2024 Alexander Mountain Fire to protect electric infrastructure and water supplies. The release also pointed to the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire, saying it burned 200,000 acres, while the Alexander Mountain Fire was contained to 10,000 acres.

According to the city, most of Loveland’s electric system is underground, but crews also work to reduce risk around remaining overhead lines by clearing dry vegetation, installing smart devices that manage electrical current and using drones to inspect fire-prone areas. The Water Division also monitors the watershed year-round because wildfire can contaminate local water sources.

The city said its Source Water Protection Plan guides wildfire response, including distribution, sampling, analysis and treatment. Remote sensors in the watershed provide data on pH, temperature and chemicals, and staff also track sediment and carbon levels that can affect water treatment. Loveland said it can block, move or blend water from sources including the Big Thompson River, Green Ridge Glade Reservoir and Charles Hansen Feeder Canal if needed.

After fires, the city said it works with partners on mitigation projects to reduce flooding and runoff from burned areas. The release said Loveland hired a contractor to rehabilitate a burn site up the canyon and used portable container walls near homes along Cedar Creek after a rainstorm caused the creek to rise from one foot to more than five within minutes. The city said those projects were supported by Larimer County and grant money from the Emergency Watershed Protection Program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.