Wildland fire and its effects on drinking water quality, vegetation structure and composition, and public psyche: A research and operational perspective
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The frequency and intensity of wildland fire on the landscape has exacerbated impacts onto the landscape and into the air column affecting both drinking water and air quality, which, in turn, affect ecosystem and human health. In this presentation, I intend to share current EPA research on some of the outcomes we are seeing specifically centering on impacts to drinking water quality and the shift of vegetation structure and composition from forest to scrub/shrub due to increasing temperatures and drought conditions. Regarding drinking water impacts, forest fires have exacerbated chemical water quality problems which include increased production of macronutrients, micronutrients, basic and acidic ions, decreased oxygen level and increased biological demand. Some of these chemicals originate from the disturbed and bare ground following fires of differing intensities where others are produced from the burned plant material. With respect to wildfires on vegetation composition, increased temperatures and drought have affected the re-establishment of coniferous forested systems back to the same system after extreme wildfire events. This transition in some areas of the west has changed the vegetation ecosystem from forest to scrub/shrub. Here I will share recent research into this changing pattern. Lastly, I also will share some operational experiences as an Air Resource Advisor regarding the human impacts of fire and smoke within a fire-prone landscape.