Forests, fire, and faucets: What we are learning about lingering water quality effects of high-severity wildfires

Charles C. Rhoades; Frank H. McCormick; Tim Fegel; Marin Chambers; Allison Rhea; Christina Burri; Jen Kovecses; Thomas Timberlake; Josh McDaniel

Treesearch

Forests, fire, and faucets: What we are learning about lingering water quality effects of high-severity wildfires

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Charles C. Rhoades, Frank H. McCormick, Tim Fegel, Marin Chambers, Allison Rhea, Christina Burri, Jen Kovecses, Thomas Timberlake, Josh McDaniel

Year:

2021

Type:

Science Bulletins and Newsletters

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Science You Can Use Bulletin, Issue 51. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 11 p.

Download (PDF 2.78 MB)

Download (PDF 2.78 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/64816.pdf

Abstract

Across the Intermountain West, snowpack in forested headwaters is the primary, if not sole, water supply source for many communities. And the forests themselves play a crucial role in maintaining the snowpack and helping to deliver high-quality water to downstream communities.

Keywords

Science You Can Use, SYCU, water quality, high-severity wildfires, snowpack, watersheds

Citation

McDaniel, Josh; Rhodes, Chuck; McCormick, Frank; Fegel, Tim; Chambers, Marin; Rhea, Allison; Burri, Christina; Kovecses, Jen; Timberlake, Thomas. 2021. Forests, fire, and faucets: What we are learning about lingering water quality effects of high-severity wildfires. Science You Can Use Bulletin, Issue 51. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 11 p.