Post-fire water-quality response in the western United States
Ashley J. Rust A C , Terri S. Hogue A B , Samuel Saxe A and John McCray A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Hydrologic Sciences and Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
B Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois Street, Golden, CO 80401, USA.
C Corresponding author. Email: arust@mymail.mines.edu
International Journal of Wildland Fire 27(3) 203-216 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF17115
Submitted: 8 March 2017 Accepted: 28 January 2018 Published: 28 March 2018
Abstract
Wildfires are increasing in size and severity in forested landscapes across the Western United States. Not only do fires alter land surfaces, but they also affect the surface water quality in downstream systems. Previous studies of individual fires have observed an increase in various forms of nutrients, ions, sediments and metals in stream water for different post-fire time periods. In this research, data were compiled for over 24 000 fires across the western United States to evaluate post-fire water-quality response. The database included millions of water-quality data points downstream of these fires, and was synthesised along with geophysical data from each burned watershed. Data from 159 fires in 153 burned watersheds were used to identify common water-quality response during the first 5 years after a fire. Within this large dataset, a subset of seven fires was examined further to identify trends in water-quality response. Change-point analysis was used to identify moments in the post-fire water-quality data where significant shifts in analyte concentrations occurred. Evaluating individual fires revealed strong initial increases or decreases in concentrations, depending on the analyte, that are masked when averaged over 5 years. Evidence from this analysis shows significant increases in nutrient flux (different forms of nitrogen and phosphorus), major-ion flux and metal concentrations are the most common changes in stream water quality within the first 5 years after fire. Dissolved constituents of ions and metals tended to decrease in concentration 5 years after fire whereas particulate matter concentration continued to increase. Assembling this unique and extensive dataset provided the opportunity to determine the most common post-fire water-quality changes in the large and diverse Western USA. Results from this study could inform studies in other parts of the world, will help parameterise and validate post-fire water-quality models, and assist communities affected by wildfire to anticipate changes to their water quality.
Additional keywords: forest fire, streams, wildfire
References
Belillas CM, Rodà F (1993) The effects of fire on water quality, dissolved nutrient losses and the export of particulate matter from dry heathland catchments. Journal of Hydrology 150, 1–17.| The effects of fire on water quality, dissolved nutrient losses and the export of particulate matter from dry heathland catchments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXhslalurs%3D&md5=5891ea32979331e8397ce6e2f27f472fCAS |
Bladon KD, Silins U, Wagner MJ, Stone M (2008) Wildfire impacts on nitrogen concentration and production from headwater streams in southern Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 38, 2359–2371.
| Wildfire impacts on nitrogen concentration and production from headwater streams in southern Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXht1Wrs7nJ&md5=abed38146d9fc7a359db0b6e51d0e0bfCAS |
Bladon KD, Emelko MB, Silins U, Stone M (2014) Wildfire and the future of water supply. Environmental Science & Technology 48, 8936–8943.
| Wildfire and the future of water supply.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXhtFaks7zN&md5=7dbc7e25e643ebf621f68c90ba5cca7eCAS |
Bowman DMJS, Balch JK, Artaxo P, Bond WJ, Carlson JM, Cochrane MA, D’Antonio CM, DeFries RS, Doyle JC, Harrison SP, Johnston FH, Keeley JE, Krawchuk MA, Kull CA, Marston JB, Moritz MA, Prentice IC, Roos CI, Scott AC, Swetnam TW, van der Werf GR, Pyne SJ (2009) Fire in the earth system. Science 324, 481–484.
| Fire in the earth system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXkvVGmtb8%3D&md5=c80853c96e9a2f628a962a123f697232CAS |
Burke JM, Prepas EE, Pinder S (2005) Runoff and phosphorus export patterns in large forested watersheds on the western Canadian Boreal Plain before and for 4 years after wildfire. Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science 4, 319–325.
| Runoff and phosphorus export patterns in large forested watersheds on the western Canadian Boreal Plain before and for 4 years after wildfire.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXht1OktbjO&md5=98e88642a85e6c76f962ac2f7ba0a777CAS |
Burke MP, Hogue TS, Kinoshita AM, Barco J, Wessel C, Stein ED (2013) Pre-and post-fire pollutant loads in an urban fringe watershed in Southern California. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 185, 10131–10145.
| Pre-and post-fire pollutant loads in an urban fringe watershed in Southern California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXht1CnsbrO&md5=33f338190136fc4b2a5e6ca6a05ffc3cCAS |
Burton CA, Hoefen TM, Plumlee GS, Baumberger KL, Backlin AR, Gallegos E, Fisher RN (2016) Trace elements in stormflow, ash, and burned soil following the 2009 Station Fire in Southern California. PLoS One 11, e0153372
| Trace elements in stormflow, ash, and burned soil following the 2009 Station Fire in Southern California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
DeBano LF (2000) The role of fire and soil heating on water repellency in wildland environments: a review. Journal of Hydrology 231–232, 195–206.
| The role of fire and soil heating on water repellency in wildland environments: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Earl SR, Blinn DW (2003) Effects of wildfire ash on water chemistry and biota in South-Western USA streams. Freshwater Biology 48, 1015–1030.
| Effects of wildfire ash on water chemistry and biota in South-Western USA streams.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXls1CnsL0%3D&md5=956dbf4433d7c0fabf564b693f4cba41CAS |
Emelko MB, Silins U, Bladon KD, Stone M (2011) Implications of land disturbance on drinking water treatability in a changing climate: demonstrating the need for ‘source water supply and protection’ strategies. Water Research 45, 461–472.
| Implications of land disturbance on drinking water treatability in a changing climate: demonstrating the need for ‘source water supply and protection’ strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhs1Sqsr7M&md5=e6f619135aa2d3378fe7ca369c5e4e94CAS |
Emelko MB, Stone M, Silins U, Allin D, Collins AL, Williams CHS, Martens AM, Bladon KD (2015) Sediment-phosphorus dynamics can shift aquatic ecology and cause downstream legacy effects after wildfire in large river systems. Global Change Biology
| Sediment-phosphorus dynamics can shift aquatic ecology and cause downstream legacy effects after wildfire in large river systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gallahar B, Koch R, Mullen K (2002) Quality of storm water runoff at Los Alamos National Laboratory in 2000 with emphasis on impact of the Cerro Grande Fire. Los Alamos National Laboratory, LA-13926. (Los Alamos, NM, USA)
Gurarie E, Andrews RD, Laidre KL (2009) A novel method for identifying behavioural changes in animal movement data. Ecology Letters 12, 395–408.
| A novel method for identifying behavioural changes in animal movement data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harvey BJ (2016) Human-caused climate change is now a key driver of forest fire activity in the western United States. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 113, 11649–11650.
| Human-caused climate change is now a key driver of forest fire activity in the western United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC28XhslSqtrrI&md5=4f7d0a299e747356c56837b8c81555dfCAS |
Helsel DR, Hirsch RM (2002) ‘Statistical Methods in Water Resources’, Book 4, chapter A3. U.S. Geological Survey. Reston, Virginia. 522 pages
Hirsch RM, Alexander RB, Smith RA (1991) Selection of methods for the detection and estimation of trends in water quality. Water Resources Research 27, 803–813.
| Selection of methods for the detection and estimation of trends in water quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hogstrand C, Wilson RW, Polger D, Wood CM (1994) Effects of zinc on the kinetics of branchial calcium uptake in freshwater rainbow trout during adaptation to waterborne zinc. The Journal of Experimental Biology 186, 55–73.
Keeley JE (2009) Fire intensity, fire severity and burn severity: a brief review and suggested usage. International Journal of Wildland Fire 18, 116–126.
| Fire intensity, fire severity and burn severity: a brief review and suggested usage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kinoshita AM, Hogue TS (2011) Spatial and temporal controls on post-fire hydrologic recovery in Southern California watersheds. Catena 87, 240–252.
| Spatial and temporal controls on post-fire hydrologic recovery in Southern California watersheds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kinoshita AM, Hogue TS (2015) Increased dry season water yield in burned watersheds in Southern California. Environmental Research Letters 10, 014003
| Increased dry season water yield in burned watersheds in Southern California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kirchner JW, Feng X, Neal C, Robson AJ (2004) The fine structure of water-quality dynamics: the(high-frequency) wave of the future. Hydrological Processes 18, 1353–1359.
| The fine structure of water-quality dynamics: the(high-frequency) wave of the future.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lane PN, Sheridan GJ, Noske PJ (2006) Changes in sediment loads and discharge from small mountain catchments following wildfire in south eastern Australia. Journal of Hydrology 331, 495–510.
| Changes in sediment loads and discharge from small mountain catchments following wildfire in south eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lohman DJ, Bickford D, Sodhi NS (2007) The burning issue. Science 316, 376
| The burning issue.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXkslyqs7c%3D&md5=35fb5f6aa1693a0420c9d39cc6040604CAS |
Mann HB, Whitney DR (1947) On a test of whether one of two random variables is stochastically larger than the other. Annals of Mathematical Statistics 18, 50–60.
| On a test of whether one of two random variables is stochastically larger than the other.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mast MA, Clow DW (2008) Effects of 2003 wildfires on stream chemistry in Glacier National Park, Montana. Hydrological Processes 22, 5013–5023.
| Effects of 2003 wildfires on stream chemistry in Glacier National Park, Montana.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhslSqs78%3D&md5=9ee8c4134ec6f2ead8b732372cdb39cfCAS |
McKenzie D, Littell JS (2016) Climate change and the eco-hydrology of fire: will area burned increase in a warming western US? Ecological Applications 27, 26–36.
| Climate change and the eco-hydrology of fire: will area burned increase in a warming western US?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McKenzie D, Gedalof Z, Peterson DL, Mote P (2004) Climatic change, wildfire, and conservation. Conservation Biology 18, 890–902.
| Climatic change, wildfire, and conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Miller JD, Safford HD, Crimmins M, Thode AE (2009) Quantitative evidence for increasing forest fire severity in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Mountains, California and Nevada, USA. Ecosystems 12, 16–32.
| Quantitative evidence for increasing forest fire severity in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Mountains, California and Nevada, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Minshall GW (2003) Responses of stream benthic macroinvertebrates to fire. Forest Ecology and Management 178, 155–161.
| Responses of stream benthic macroinvertebrates to fire.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moody JA, Martin DA (2001) Post-fire, rainfall intensity–peak discharge relations for three mountainous watersheds in the western USA. Hydrological Processes 15, 2981–2993.
| Post-fire, rainfall intensity–peak discharge relations for three mountainous watersheds in the western USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morgan P, Heyerdahl EK, Gibson CE (2008) Multi-season climate synchronized forest fires throughout the 20th century, northern Rockies, USA. Ecology 89, 717–728.
| Multi-season climate synchronized forest fires throughout the 20th century, northern Rockies, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Murphy, SF, McCleskey RB, Writer JH (2012) Effects of flow regime on stream turbidity and suspended solids after wildfire, Colorado Front Range. In ‘Wildfire and Water Quality: Processes, Impacts and Challenges’, IAHS Publication 354, pp. 51–58. (IAHS Press. Wallingford, UK.)
Noske PJ, Lane PNJ, Sheridan GJ (2010) Stream exports of coarse matter and phosphorus following wildfire in NE Vistoria, Australia. Hydrological Processes 24, 1514–1529.
| Stream exports of coarse matter and phosphorus following wildfire in NE Vistoria, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXnt1Kjurw%3D&md5=ab27cef8f68edf42b8c762ec7e30df01CAS |
Pechony O, Shindell DT (2010) Driving forces of global wildfires over the past millennium and the forthcoming century. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 107, 19167–19170.
| Driving forces of global wildfires over the past millennium and the forthcoming century.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhsVGru7rO&md5=7008d0d424c24e0ac10e90ea20d862e5CAS |
Pinedo-Gonzalez P, Hellige B, West AJ, Sañudo-Wilhelmy SA (2016) Changes in the size partitioning of metals in storm runoff following wildfires: Implications for the transport of bioactive trace metals. Applied Geochemistry 83, 62–71.
| Changes in the size partitioning of metals in storm runoff following wildfires: Implications for the transport of bioactive trace metals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
PRISM Climate Group (2016) PRISM climate data. Oregon State University. Available at http://prism.oregonstate.edu [Verified 25 July 2016]
Ranalli AJ (2004) A summary of the scientific literature on the effects of fire on the concentration of nutrients in surface waters. US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004–1296. Available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1296/ [Verified 10 November 2017]
Rhoades CC, Entwistle D, Butler D (2011) The influence of wildfire extent and severity on streamwater chemistry, sediment and temperature following the Hayman Fire, Colorado. International Journal of Wildland Fire 20, 430–442.
| The influence of wildfire extent and severity on streamwater chemistry, sediment and temperature following the Hayman Fire, Colorado.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXlsFGlsLs%3D&md5=99dff816789302380f2528fac9d4bbecCAS |
Riggan PJ, Lockwood RN, Jacks PM, Colver CG, Weirich F, DeBano LF, Brass JA (1994) Effects of fire severity on nitrate mobilization in watersheds subject to chronic atmospheric deposition. Environmental Science & Technology 28, 369–375.
| Effects of fire severity on nitrate mobilization in watersheds subject to chronic atmospheric deposition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXhtFKitLw%3D&md5=c3209d0768f437db05fc8bd554a5e330CAS |
Romme WH, Boyce MS, Gresswell R, Merrill EH, Minshall GW, Whitlock C, Turner MG (2011) Twenty years after the 1988 Yellowstone Fires: lessons about disturbance and ecosystems. Ecosystems 14, 1196–1215.
| Twenty years after the 1988 Yellowstone Fires: lessons about disturbance and ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Runge J, Mann J (2008) State of the industry report 2008: charting the course ahead. Journal of the American Water Works Association 10, 61–74.
Ryan SE, Dwire KA, Dixon MK (2011) Impacts of wildfire on runoff and sediment loads at Little Granite Creek, western Wyoming. Geomorphology 129, 113–130.
| Impacts of wildfire on runoff and sediment loads at Little Granite Creek, western Wyoming.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shakesby RA, Doerr SH (2006) Wildfire as a hydrological and geomorphological agent. Earth-Science Reviews 74, 269–307.
| Wildfire as a hydrological and geomorphological agent.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Silins U, Stone M, Emelko MB, Bladon KD (2009) Sediment production following severe wildfire and post-fire salvage logging in the Rocky Mountain headwaters of the Oldman River Basin, Alberta. Catena 79, 189–197.
| Sediment production following severe wildfire and post-fire salvage logging in the Rocky Mountain headwaters of the Oldman River Basin, Alberta.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith HG, Sheridan GJ, Lane PNJ, Nyman P, Haydon S (2011) Wildfire effects on water quality in forest catchments: A review with implications for water supply. Journal of Hydrology 396, 170–192.
| Wildfire effects on water quality in forest catchments: A review with implications for water supply.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhsF2htbnK&md5=b193eaa17ee4a2e313abdb5a76c07bd4CAS |
Soto B, Diaz-Fierros F (1993) Interactions between plant ash leachates and soil. International Journal of Wildland Fire 3, 207–216.
| Interactions between plant ash leachates and soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Spracklen DV, Mickley LJ, Logan JA, Hudman RC, Yevich R, Flannigan MD, Westerling AL (2009) Impacts of climate change from 2000 to 2050 on wildfire activity and carbonaceous aerosol concentrations in the western United States. Journal of Geophysical Research, D, Atmospheres 114, 1–17.
| Impacts of climate change from 2000 to 2050 on wildfire activity and carbonaceous aerosol concentrations in the western United States.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tamhane AC, Dunlop DD (2000) ‘Statistics and Data Analysis.’ (Prentice Hall, Inc.: NJ, USA)
Taylor WA (2000) Change-point analysis: a powerful new tool for detecting changes. Available at http://www.variation.com/cpa/tech/changepoint.html [Verified 10 May 2017]
United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018) Storage and retrieval and water quality exchange (US EPA) Available at https://www.epa.gov/waterdata/storage-and-retrieval-and-water-quality-exchange [Verified 10 February 2016]
United States Geological Survey (USGS) (2018) USGS water data for the nation. Available at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis [Verified 19 April 2016]
Westerling AL, Hidalgo HG, Cayan DR, Swetnam TW (2006) Warming and earlier spring increase Western US forest wildfire activity. Science 313, 940–943.
| Warming and earlier spring increase Western US forest wildfire activity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XotFCitbo%3D&md5=d37f1609d3aaf478313fc5e806598107CAS |
Westerling AL, Turner MG, Smithwick EA, Romme WH, Ryan MG (2011) Continued warming could transform Greater Yellowstone fire regimes by mid-21st century. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 108, 13165–13170.
| Continued warming could transform Greater Yellowstone fire regimes by mid-21st century.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhtVKit7fK&md5=6839cf0c4901825b688222409e6aa0e2CAS |
