Northern Water has declared a local disaster emergency in connection with the Alexander Mountain and Stone Canyon fires in Northern Colorado. 

General Manager Brad Wind signed the Declaration of a Local Disaster Emergency on Friday, Aug. 2. 

The declaration enables access to local, state and federal resources for response to the fire and its impacts to infrastructure owned or operated by Northern Water. The State of Colorado, Larimer County and City of Loveland have each declared a local emergency as well. 

“Significant infrastructure, utilities and water impacts are expected, as well as cascading impacts of soil erosion, sedimentation, water quality, mudslide potential and downstream water access to the Northern Colorado Front Range,” the declaration states. 

State statute allows the principal executive officer of an affected government subdivision to declare a local disaster. The governing body of the entity can extend the disaster declaration beyond seven days if necessary. The Northern Water board will meet Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Northern Water headquarters in Berthoud.