Wildfire effects on soil-physical and -hydraulic properties as a function of burn severity are poorly characterized, especially several years after wildfire. A stratified random sampling approach was used in 2015 to sample seven sites representing a spectrum of remotely sensed burn severity in the area impacted by the 2011 Las Conchas Fire in New Mexico, USA. Replicate samples from each site were analysed in the laboratory.Linear and linear indicator regression were used to assess thresholds in soil-physical and -hydraulic properties and functional relations with remotely sensed burn severity.Significant thresholds were present for initial soil-water content (θ i ) at 0-6 cm depth between the change in the Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) equal to 618-802, for bulk density (ρ b ) at 3-6 cm between dNBR equal to 416-533, for gravel fraction at 0-1 cm between dNBR equal to 416-533, for fines (the silt + clay fraction) at 0-1 cm for dNBR equal to 416-533, and for fines at 3-6 cm for dNBR equal to 293-416. Significant linear relations with dNBR were present between ρ b at 0-1 cm, loss on ignition (LOI) at 0-1 cm, gravel fraction at 0-1 cm, and the large organic fraction at 1-3 cm.No thresholds or effects on soil-hydraulic properties of field-saturated hydraulic conductivity or sorptivity were observed. These results suggest that ρ b and LOI at 0-1 cm have residual direct impacts from the wildfire heat impulse. The θ i threshold is most likely from delayed groundcover/vegetation recovery that increases evaporation at the highest burn severity sites. Gravel and silt + clay thresholds at 0-1 cm at the transition to high burn severity suggest surface gravel lag development from hydraulic erosion. Thresholds in ρ b from 3 to 6 cm and in silt + clay fraction from 3 to 6 cm appear to be the result of soil variability between sites rather than wildfire impacts.This work suggests that gravel-rich soils may have increased resilience to sustained surface runoff generation and erosion following wildfire, with implications for assessments of postwildfire hydrologic and erosion recovery potential.
For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS.For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov.Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. AbstractThe generation of runoff and the resultant flash flooding can be substantially larger following wildfire than for similar rainstorms that precede wildfire disturbance.
Urbanization has dramatically increased precipitation runoff to the system of drainage channels and natural stream channels in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, metropolitan area. Rainfall and runoff data are important for planning and designing future storm-water conveyance channels in newly developing areas. Storm-water quality also is monitored in accordance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority, the City of Albuquerque, and the U.S. Geological Survey began a cooperative program to collect hydrologic data to help assess the quality and quantity of surface-water resources in the Albuquerque area. This report presents water-quality, streamflow, and rainfall data collected from October 1,2000, to September 30, 2001 (water year 2001). Also provided is a station analysis for each of the 20 streamflow-gaging sites and 38 rainfall-gaging sites, which includes a description of monitoring equipment, problems associated with data collection during the year, and other information used to compute streamflow discharges or rainfall records. A hydrographic comparison shows the effects that the largest drainage channel in the metropolitan area, the North Floodway Channel, has on total flow in the Rio Grande.
Urbanization has dramatically increased precipitation runoff to the system of drainage channels and natural stream channels in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, metropolitan area. Rainfall and runoff data are important for planning and designing future storm-water conveyance channels in newly developing areas. Storm-water quality also is monitored in accordance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority, the City of Albuquerque, and the U.S. Geological Survey began a cooperative program to collect hydrologic data to assist in assessing the quality and quantity of surface-water resources in the Albuquerque area. This report presents water-quality, streamflow, and rainfall data collected from October 1, 2003, to September 30, 2004 (water year 2004). Also provided is a station analysis for each of the 18 streamflow-gaging sites and 39 rainfall-gaging sites, which includes a description of monitoring equipment, problems associated with data collection during the year, and other information used to compute streamflow discharges or rainfall records. A hydrographic comparison shows the effects that the largest drainage channel in the metropolitan area, the North Floodway Channel, has on total flow in the Rio Grande. 2 computer models that aid local engineers and city planners in the estimation of storm-water runoff. With these needs in mind, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority (AMAFCA) and the City of Albuquerque, began a study in 1976 to collect hydrologic data to help assess surface-water resources in the Albuquerque area and to determine long-term trends. The information gained will better help AMAFCA and the City to manage and administer water resources. The program is reviewed and revised annually to meet AMAFCA's and the City's needs. Data collected also support digital modeling programs conducted by AMAFCA. Flood-frequency analyses of selected watersheds can be completed when sufficient data are available. Historically, daily mean discharges at selected streamflow-gaging stations are published in the USGS annual Water-Data Report, but prior to the water year 2001 summary report (Kelly and Romero, 2003), no annual data summary report had been devoted exclusively to this study. Two previous reports (Fischer and others, 1984; Metzker and others, 1993) summarized rainfall and runoff data for selected storms during 1976-83 and 1984-88. Daily rainfall totals and intensities as well as annual water-quality sampling results are not included in the annual Water-Data Report but are provided to the cooperators on request. Instantaneous maximum stages for secondary peaks and all gage-height or rainfall values recorded at 5-minute intervals are available from the USGS database. The purpose of this cooperative program is to obtain rainfall and surface-water (water quality and streamflow) data for an assessment of water resources...
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