Natural Disaster Response and Recovery: Lessons Learned in Trout Canyon and Kyle Canyon, Nevada: Fid-Bau Portal

Natural Disaster Response and Recovery: Lessons Learned in Trout Canyon and Kyle Canyon, Nevada

Kodweis, Greg

On July 1, 2013, a wildfire was started by a lightning strike in the Spring Mountains, located west of Las Vegas, Nevada. Two small water systems were affected by the fire, Trout Canyon and Kyle Canyon. The fire burned more than 27,800 acres and by July 15, 2013 the fire was 70% contained, allowing the evacuated residents to return to their homes. The fire was not 100% contained until September 17, 2013. The NvWARN system was activated to repair the Trout Canyon Water System utilizing materials from water systems throughout Nevada and crews from the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Repairs, from the fire damage, on the Trout Canyon Water System were completed on August 30, 2013. Heavy rains over the Labor Day weekend, dating from August 30, 2013 to September 2, 2013, caused massive debris flows that completely destroyed the Trout Canyon Water System and damaged the Kyle Canyon Water System. This paper describes the damage that occurred to both the water systems and shows more damage to water systems can occur after a forest fire than during the actual fire event. This paper also discusses how emergency agreements that are in place will assist smaller communities, but the smaller communities still need emergency plans and funding sources before a disaster occurs. Finally, the paper contrasts the damage to an upgraded modern water system versus an older system, showing how the modern system withstood the storm with less damage.