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Water Quality Concerns After Wildfire
Author - Gene Surber, Extension Service, Montana State University,
Editor - James E. Knight, Extension Service, Montana State University
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General Impact of Wildfires
Loss of vegetation canopies
Increase in erosion
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General Impacts, cont.
Increase water temperature
Lower water levels Soil and ash pollution Red Slurry
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General Impacts – cont.
Nutrient movement Nitrate, organic
nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium
Returns to pre-burn levels within 1 to 2 years
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Soil and Water Quality
Changes in soil pore space
Changes to infiltration rates
Run off rates
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Physical Water Quality
Temperature More sunlight reaches
streams and soil Aquatic life Livestock
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Sediment and Turbidity
Suspended sediment Bedload Turbidity
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Algae
Nearly all water have some form
Increased temperatures, increases growth
Blue-green alage
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Chemical conditions - pH
Neutral = 7
Over 7 = alkaline
Under 7 = acidic
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Chemical conditions - Alkalinity
Ash in stream Above 8.5 – livestock
problems
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Chemical Conditions - Salinity
NOT same as alkaline TSD (total dissolved solids) Abrupt changes, problems w/ livestock Expressed as ppm or mg/l
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Nutrients - Nitrogen
Nitrates – convert to nitrites
Nitrites decrease oxygen carrying capacity of blood
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Nutrients - Phosphorus
Binds to soil Following storms – can wash into surface
waters Eutrophication – aquatic plants
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Nutrients – Dissolved Oxygen
Cold water fisheries - between 8 and 13 mg/l
Cold water holds more oxygen
Soil temperatures increase after fire
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Cyanide
Red fire retardant slurry
Acutely toxic to salmonids
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Other Chemicals
See table 3 - handout