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Update on the Effects of a Sierran Wildfire on Surface Runoff Water Quality
Author(s) -
Miller W. W.,
Johnson D. W.,
Gergans N.,
CarrollMoore E. M.,
Walker R. F.,
Cody T. L.,
Wone B.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2012.0472
Subject(s) - surface runoff , environmental science , water quality , hydrology (agriculture) , water year , tributary , nutrient , drainage basin , ecology , geography , geology , geotechnical engineering , cartography , biology
Wildfire has been shown to increase the short‐term (1–3 yr) mobilization of mineral N and P in forest ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe Basin. The ensuing effects on tributary and lake water quality are uncertain. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the impacts on runoff water quality over an intermediate time frame of 5 yr (2002–2007) after a wildfire event. Our design included fixed plots randomly placed within burned and unburned areas. Because each plot was sampled repeatedly during the study, we treated plots as repeated random effects in the analysis. We used a mixed model approach to analyze nutrient runoff concentrations and load for NH 4 + –N, NO − 3 N , and P in phosphate form (designated as ortho P or PO 4 3− –P) where treatment (unburned vs. burned), time (pre‐wildfire, post‐wildfire year 1, year 2, etc.), and their interaction were fixed effects. Concentrations and loads of mineral N and P were higher in runoff from the burned areas immediately after wildfire. Because high water years may also contribute to higher runoff nutrient concentrations and loading, a wildfire followed by a high water year within the first season after a wildfire would likely have a much greater impact on runoff (and hence tributary) water quality than a wildfire followed by a low runoff water year.