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Fire, logging, and debris disposal effects on soil and water in northern coniferous forests

Documents and Media Posted on: November 30, 2018
Many sera1 northern coniferous forest types are dependent upon periodic wildfire for their perpetuation. Man partially mimics the role of wildfire by clearcut logging of these forests and often by subsequent burning of the logging debris. Mineral soil is exposed and conditions are provided for forest regeneration.Document Type: Other Documents

Impacts of bio-based energy generation fuels on water and soil resources [Chapter 7]

Publications Posted on: October 05, 2018
The use of bio-based fuels for energy generation can have positive or negative impacts on water and resources. To best understand these impacts, the effects of bioenergy systems on water and soil resources should be assessed as part of an integrated analysis considering environmental, social and economic dimensions.

The legacy of severe wildfire on stream water quality

FS News Posted on: September 25, 2018
Do severe wildfires impact rivers and reservoirs years after they burn? In Colorado, at the site of the 2002 Hayman Fire, a new study found that watersheds with extensive high-severity wildfire still contained elevated levels of streamwater nitrogen. While elevated nitrogen and carbon in burned watersheds are not a threat to drinking water quality, they do exceed expected levels for healthy streams in this area. 

Stream water quality concerns linger long after the smoke clears - learning from Front Range wildfires

Documents and Media Posted on: April 07, 2017
Large, high-severity wildfires alter the ecological processes that determine how watersheds retain and release nutrients and affect stream water quality. These changes usually abate a few years after a fire, but recent studies indicate they may persist longer than previously expected. Wildfires are a natural disturbance agent, but due to the increased frequency and extent of high-severity wildfires predicted for western North America, it is important to better understand their consequences on surface water. Document Type: Other Documents

Stream water quality after a fire

Projects Posted on: April 07, 2017
Wildland fires in the arid west create a cause for concern for many inhabitants and an area of interest for researchers. Wildfires dramatically change watersheds, yielding floods and debris flows that endanger water supplies, human lives, and valuable fish habitats.

Cumulative effects analysis of the water quality risk of herbicides used for site preparation in the Central North Island, New Zealand

Publications Posted on: December 07, 2016
Herbicide use varies both spatially and temporally within managed forests. While information exists on the effects of herbicide use on water quality at the site and small catchment scale, little is known about the cumulative effects of herbicide use at the landscape scale.

Protecting the source: Tools to evaluate fuel treatment cost vs. water quality protection

Publications Posted on: October 25, 2016
High-intensity wildfires are one of the leading causes of severe soil erosion in western U.S. watersheds. This erosion can lead to disruptive deposits of sediment in reservoirs and water supply systems. Fuel treatments such as controlled burns and forest thinning can reduce wildfire intensity and help preserve topsoil.

Evaluation of storage and filtration protocols for alpine/subalpine lake water quality samples

Publications Posted on: August 18, 2016
Many government agencies and other organizations sample natural alpine and subalpine surface waters using varying protocols for sample storage and filtration. Simplification of protocols would be beneficial if it could be shown that sample quality is unaffected.

Long-term forest paired catchment studies: What do they tell us that landscape-level monitoring does not?

Publications Posted on: August 10, 2016
Forested catchments throughout the world are known for producing high quality water for human use. In the 20th Century, experimental forest catchment studies played a key role in studying the processes contributing to high water quality.

Echohydrological implications of drought for forests in the United States

Publications Posted on: April 08, 2016
The relationships among drought, surface water flow, and groundwater recharge are not straightforward for most forest ecosystems due to the strong role that vegetation plays in the forest water balance. Hydrologic responses to drought can be either mitigated or exacerbated by forest vegetation depending upon vegetation water use and how forest population dynamics respond to drought.

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