A5059505553- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Urban Stormwater Management Solutions
- Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Electrokinetic Soil Remediation Techniques
- Aeolian processes and effects
- Landslides and related hazards
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Flood Risk Assessment and Management
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Geophysical and Geoelectrical Methods
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Coal and Its By-products
- Design Education and Practice
- Evacuation and Crowd Dynamics
- Landfill Environmental Impact Studies
- Fire dynamics and safety research
- Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
- Smart Materials for Construction
- Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Stabilization
- Mine drainage and remediation techniques
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Arsenic contamination and mitigation
Montana State University
2022-2025
Washington State University
2017-2024
Rocky Mountain Research (United States)
2022
Rocky Mountain Research Station
2022
Illinois Department of Transportation
2020
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2020
University of Illinois at Springfield
2020
University of Colorado Boulder
2014-2019
ConspectusWildfires are a natural part of most forest ecosystems, but due to changing climatic and environmental conditions, they have become larger, more severe, potentially damaging. Forested watersheds vulnerable wildfire serve as drinking water supplies for many urban rural communities. The highly variable nature behavior combined with spatially complex patterns in vegetation, landscape, hydrologic factors create uncertainty surrounding the postfire effects on supplies. Wildfires often...
Abstract 2020 is the year of wildfire records. California experienced its three largest fires early in fire season. The Pantanal, wetland on planet, burned over 20% surface. More than 18 million hectares forest and bushland during 2019–2020 season Australia, killing 33 people, destroying nearly 2500 homes, endangering many endemic species. direct cost damages being counted dozens billion dollars, but indirect costs water‐related ecosystem services benefits could be equally expensive, with...
This study evaluated effects of the 2012 High Park Wildfire in Cache la Poudre River Watershed Colorado on source water quality and treatment. The formation disinfection by‐products (DBPs) was by treating samples with chlorine following uniform conditions. efficacy alum coagulation for reducing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) DBP concentrations also evaluated. Postwildfire thunderstorms spring snowmelt increased DOC relative to base‐flow Alum effectively reduced (by 30–60% at a dose 50 mg/L)...
To characterize the effects of thermal-alteration on water extractable organic matter (WEOM), soil samples were heated in a laboratory at 225, 350, and 500 °C. Next, unheated soils leached, filtered, analyzed for dissolved carbon (DOC) concentration, optical properties, molecular size distribution, composition, disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation following addition chlorine. The to 225 °C leached greatest DOC had highest C- N-DBP precursor reactivity per unit compared material or 350...
Post-wildfire erosion to downstream surface waters can deteriorate water quality levels that create challenges for aquatic life and drinking treatment. Polymeric additives, xanthan gum (XG) polyacrylamide (PAM), have been demonstrated be effective controlling in the presence of hydrophilic ash. However, with repeated rainfall applications, some applied XG PAM may mobilize runoff enter waters, which pose concerns. In this study, indoor simulation experiments were performed on plots containing...
Re-suspension of post-fire sediment deposits challenge conventional water treatment processes during runoff events, impacting DBP formation. Treatment thresholds for a range unit are established.
The increased frequency and severity of wildfires in forested watersheds has the potential to significantly impact quantity quality water extractable organic matter (WEOM) exported from these ecosystems. This study examined optical properties WEOM laboratory heated soil order understand physicochemical changes occurring as a result heating, well test usefulness parameters for assessing presence pyrogenic matter. absorbance fluorescence spectral shape intensity varied systematically function...
Utilities can recover from wildfires and extreme weather events with resiliency plans operation designs that address subsequent water quality challenges.
Abstract Wildfires can abruptly transform forests, char vegetation and soils, create an environment susceptible to postfire erosion runoff nearby surface waters serving as potable water supplies. The rising trend in wildfire activity increases the risk source waters, while postwildfire implications on drinking treatment are not well understood. A laboratory‐based approach was used simulate effects of forest floor heating during quality. Surface soil litter samples were heated a furnace...
Following wildfires, partially combusted biomass remains on the forest floor and erosion from landscape can release dissolved pyrogenic organic matter (dPyOM) to surface waters. Therefore, post-fire alterations (DOM) in aquatic systems may play a vital role DOM stability biogeochemical cycles. Dissolved PyOM biodegradation poorly understood is expected vary with combustion temperature fuel source. In this study laboratory heating leaching of materials (soil litter) were used compare...
Colorado recently adopted a chlorophyll standard of 5 μg/L as an option for additional protection direct‐use water supply reservoirs. Setting limit on algal abundance by regulating in these reservoirs is preventive measure aimed at controlling or reducing algal‐derived precursors disinfection by‐products (DBPs). Development the was based field studies and compliance data from associated treatment systems. Controlling can supplement conventional serve alternative to situations which algae...
Ash samples from Oregon and California wildfires were characterized the effects on particle stability in water related to combustion completeness ash color assess mobilization potential aquatic systems.
This paper introduces a novel decision-making framework for the optimization of water treatment plant operations.
Abstract In 2020, Montana State University initiated a five-year NSF-funded Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (RED) project with the vision of transforming traditional topic-focused course structure in environmental engineering into an integrated project-based curriculum (IPBC) that supports climate collaborative and continuous learning among faculty students. The redesign process engaged extensive consensus-building to define desired student outcomes for program. transformed...
Previous studies have shown that algal-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) has a strong influence on the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) during treatment drinking water. In summer 2010, we evaluated role nitrogen and phosphorus loading phytoplankton abundance as drivers concentrations quality DOM associated DBP in 30 reservoirs mountains plains State Colorado. Optical properties such Specific Ultraviolet Absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA ) fluorescence spectroscopy were used to...
Wildfire-burnt hillslopes are vulnerable to erosion, precipitation-induced landslides, and debris flows. Xanthan gum (XG) polyacrylamide (PAM) were recently shown as attractive alternatives for controlling surface erosion. However, their mobility on the or effects downstream waters unknown. This study showed that after three wet-dry cycles, vertical movement of XG PAM into soil with rainfall is possible. Controlled water quality experiments could have negative impacts acidity turbidity if...