Assessment of post-wildfire erosion risk and effects on water quality in south-western Australia

• DOI: 10.1071/wf18123
• Publication Date: 2020-02-10T22:16:32Z
• Authors: David Blake; Petter Nyman; Helen Nice; Frances M. L. D'S...; Christopher R. J....; Pierre Horwitz
• Keywords: Landform; Coastal erosion

Investigations of wildfire impact on water resources have escalated globally over the last decade owing to an awareness climate-related vulnerabilities. Within Australia, research into post-wildfire erosion has focused supply catchments in south-eastern region. Here, we examine risk and its potential for quality impacts a catchment south-western Australia. The Harvey River, which drains from forested escarpments onto agricultural coastal plain valuable wetlands, was burnt by 2016. aims this study were determine across contrasting landforms variable fire severity, using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), whether post-fire could be detected at permanent river monitoring stations located plain. RUSLE outputs showed hot-spots intersections steep terrain high severity that these areas confined headwaters dunes. Monthly data conspicuous seasonal patterns, but sampling frequency temporally too coarse pick up predicted event-related effects, particularly given pre-existing sites distal zone contamination.