Impacts of fire on hydrology and erosion in steep mountain big sagebrush communities
Pierson, F.B.; Robichaud, P.R.; Spaeth, K.E.; Moffet, C.A. 2003.
Impacts of fire on hydrology and erosion in steep mountain big sagebrush communities.
First interagency conference on research in the watersheds.
Agricultural Research Service. 625-630.
Keywords: sagebrush
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Abstract:
Wildfire is an important ecological process and
management issue on western rangelands. Major
unknowns associated with wildfire are its affects on
vegetation and soil conditions that influence
hydrologic processes including infiltration, surface
runoff, erosion, sediment transport, and flooding.
Post wildfire hydrologic response was studied in big
sagebrush plant communities on steep slopes with
coarse-textured soils. Significant rill erosion was
observed following both thunderstorm and rapid
snowmelt events. Rainfall simulation and controlled
overland flow techniques were used to study post-fire
effects on infiltration, and interrill and rill
erosion processes on burned and adjacent unburned
areas. Results indicate that burn severity and the
development of water repellent soil conditions play
significant roles in determining infiltration and
interrill erosion rates, particularly on shrub coppice
dunes characterized by high surface litter
accumulations. The most dramatic and long-lasting
affect of fire was on rill erosion processes by
reducing ground cover needed to slow and spread
water as it moves across the soil surface. Ongoing
research efforts are aimed at characterizing the
hydrologic impacts of prescribed fire used as a tool
to manage vegetation and mitigate the impacts of
catastrophic wildfire events.
Moscow FSL publication no. 2003t
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