1. Fire and Water Dr. Carolyn Hunsaker Pacific Southwest Research Station, Fresno, CA

2. Science Synthesis PSW GTR 247 available 2014 Science Synthesis to Support Socioecological Resilience in the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade Range Chapter 4. Fire Chapter 5. Soils Chapter 6. Water Resources and Aquatic Ecosystems

3. Fire can be both good and bad Much of the Sierra Nevada has not burned in 80-100years Forest TypeHistorical fire return interval (year) Historical area burned (acres/year) Mixed-conifer1276,000 West-side Ponderosa pine 5115,000

4. We have more studies on wildfire than prescribed fire effects Sierra Nevada has only 2 published studies on prescribed fire effects Sierra Nevada has only 2 published studies on prescribed fire effects North Tahoe North Tahoe Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park In progress In progress Kings River Experimental Watersheds Kings River Experimental Watersheds

5. Climate Change Effects Increased storm intensity Increased storm intensity Uncharacteristically severe wildfire Uncharacteristically severe wildfire Promotes vegetation disturbance Promotes vegetation disturbance Including insect/pathogen outbreaks Including insect/pathogen outbreaks Drought Drought Wildfire Wildfire Air pollution stress Air pollution stress WHICH--- WHICH---

6. Affect Sediment & Channel Processes Increased flooding and sediment movement Increased flooding and sediment movement Could reduce channel stability & habitat quality Could reduce channel stability & habitat quality Post-fire sediment yields Post-fire sediment yields 2-3 times 2-3 times Post-fire debris flow—increase Post-fire debris flow—increase Up to 10 times Up to 10 times

7. Fire: Nutrient (N & C) Loss by volatilization Loss by volatilization Wildfire higher than prescribed fire Wildfire higher than prescribed fire N affected more than C N affected more than C Nutrients can be elevated in streams Nutrients can be elevated in streams Neither fire type detrimental Neither fire type detrimental Could be beneficial where atmospheric N deposition high Could be beneficial where atmospheric N deposition high

8. Fire: Stream Invertebrates No negative effects from prescribed fire No negative effects from prescribed fire Post wildfire effects up to a few years Post wildfire effects up to a few years Difficult to generalize because depends on intensity Difficult to generalize because depends on intensity

9. Scientist Recommendations Riparian restoration Riparian restoration Put fire back into headwater streams Put fire back into headwater streams Fuels reduction / forest restoration opportunities Fuels reduction / forest restoration opportunities Maintain or improve water quantity and quality Maintain or improve water quantity and quality