Risk assessment of fuel management practices on hillslope erosion processes

Robichaud, P.R.; Elliot, W.J.; Pierson, F.B.; Wohlgemuth, P.M. 1999. Risk Assessment of Fuel Management Practices on Hillslope Erosion Processes. Proceedings of the Joint Fire Science Conference and Workshop, Volume II. June 15-17, 1999, Boise, ID. Moscow, ID: University of Idaho, International Association of Wildland Fire. 58-64.

Keywords: erosion, fire severity, risk assessment, modeling

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Abstract: Fuel and land management activities in the past century have placed wildland values such as soil and water quality at greater risk due to increased soil erosion. Eroded sediment can lead to decreased long-term soil productivity and adversely impact aquatic ecosystems. Higher runoff rates from severely burned landscapes can lead to flooding and increased risk to human life and property. Over the past ten years, we have completed studies on eight sites in the Northwest and Southeast U. S. measuring erosion impacts associated with prescribed burning. We are now carrying out field and laboratory studies addressing knowledge gaps in our understanding of fuel management practices on soil erosion, and developing a user-friendly computer interface to be able to evaluate the risk and consequences of erosion hazards following wildfires, mitigation treatments, and prescribed burns. Specific tasks that we are addressing include: determining hillslope characteristics that govern dry ravel processes such as slope steepness, vegetation density, soil texture and disturbance impacts; determining the spatial and temporal variability in infiltration and erosion parameters needed to predict overland flow and soil detachment after wildfire; quantifying effectiveness of three mitigation practices in reducing sediment production for specified design storms following wildfires; and evaluating measured erosion rates and estimates of sediment production after wildfires at the upland watershed/catchment scale. Data collection has begun from a burned over catchment and preliminary results will be presented. Additional discussion will address methodologies and approaches to evaluate and model erosion risk and hazard.

Moscow FSL publication no. 1999m