Research
Bigger and more-frequent wildfires threaten water supplies across the US
Mongabay · By Associated Press ·
The Brief
- A record number of wildfires in the U.S. this year burned more than 14,062 square miles.
- The fires affected streams and rivers that supply drinking water to urban and rural communities.
- The article reports on impacts on water supplies that are less visible than charred trees and scorched vegetation.
Why it matters
Wildfire effects on rivers and streams extend beyond burned land, touching the drinking water supply of communities, which matters for water managers and researchers studying fire and hydrology.
Who’s affected
- water utilities and drinking water managers
- communities relying on surface water from fire-affected watersheds
- researchers in wildfire and watershed science
- #wildfire
- #water supply
- #watersheds
- #drinking water
- #climate impacts
A record number of wildfires burned more than 14,062 square miles in the U.S. this year, leaving behind charred trees and scorched vegetation. But less-obvious are the impacts they had on the streams and rivers that provide drinking water to urban and rural communities across the…
Timeline
Conservation news article reports record wildfire burn area and impacts on water supplies
Conservation news
Bigger and more-frequent wildfires threaten water supplies across the US