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Risk assessment of fuel management practices on hillslope erosion processes
Robichaud, P.R.; Elliot, W.J.; Pierson, F.B.; Wohlgemuth, P.M. 2000.
Risk assessment of fuel management practices on hillslope erosion processes.
In: Neuenschwander, L.F.; Ryan, K.C., tech. eds.,
Proceedings from the Joint Fire Science Conference and Workshop --
"Crossing the Millennium: Integrating Spatial Technologies and Ecological Principles for a New Age in Fire Management";
June 15-17, 1999; Boise, ID.
Moscow, ID: University of Idaho; Vol. II: 58-64.
Keywords: erosion, fire severity, risk assessment, modeling, fuel management
Links:
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 can 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 Northwestern and Southeastern 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 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 are presented. Additional discussion addresses methodologies and
approaches to evaluate and model erosion risk and hazard.
Moscow FSL publication no. 2000w
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