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Water Quality Concerns After Wildfire

Water Quality Concerns After Wildfire. Author - Gene Surber, Extension Service, Montana State University, Editor - James E. Knight, Extension Service, Montana State University. General Impact of Wildfires. Loss of vegetation canopies Increase in erosion. General Impacts, cont.

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Water Quality Concerns After Wildfire

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  1. Water Quality Concerns After Wildfire Author - Gene Surber, Extension Service, Montana State University, Editor - James E. Knight, Extension Service, Montana State University

  2. General Impact of Wildfires • Loss of vegetation canopies • Increase in erosion

  3. General Impacts, cont. • Increase water temperature • Lower water levels • Soil and ash pollution • Red Slurry

  4. General Impacts – cont. • Nutrient movement • Nitrate, organic nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium • Returns to pre-burn levels within 1 to 2 years

  5. Soil and Water Quality • Changes in soil pore space • Changes to infiltration rates • Run off rates

  6. Physical Water Quality • Temperature • More sunlight reaches streams and soil • Aquatic life • Livestock

  7. Sediment and Turbidity • Suspended sediment • Bedload • Turbidity

  8. Algae • Nearly all water have some form • Increased temperatures, increases growth • Blue-green alage

  9. Chemical conditions - pH • Neutral = 7 • Over 7 = alkaline • Under 7 = acidic

  10. Chemical conditions - Alkalinity • Ash in stream • Above 8.5 – livestock problems

  11. Chemical Conditions - Salinity • NOT same as alkaline • TSD (total dissolved solids) • Abrupt changes, problems w/ livestock • Expressed as ppm or mg/l

  12. Nutrients - Nitrogen • Nitrates – convert to nitrites • Nitrites decrease oxygen carrying capacity of blood

  13. Nutrients - Phosphorus • Binds to soil • Following storms – can wash into surface waters • Eutrophication – aquatic plants

  14. Nutrients – Dissolved Oxygen • Cold water fisheries - between 8 and 13 mg/l • Cold water holds more oxygen • Soil temperatures increase after fire

  15. Cyanide • Red fire retardant slurry • Acutely toxic to salmonids

  16. Other Chemicals • See table 3 - handout

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