LINKAGES BETWEEN POST-WILDFIRE WATER QUALITY DATA COLLECTION AND SATELLITE REMOTE SENSING

The effects that wildfire can have on the quality and quantity of water, alteration of soils, and vegetation succession pose many challenges to those who are charged with managing those resources. The U.S. Geological Survey is working in selected basins in the Western, U.S., collecting stream gage measurements of water quality and discharge. Data collection is focused on the first few years after a wildfire, when water quality is typically most affected, but acknowledging that impairment can last longer. Additionally, remote sensing data catalogs are being built, one for critical needs for geospatial prediction of impacts on water from wildfire and the second a catalog of methods for measuring remotely sensed water quality post wildfire. Integration of water quality data from discrete storm sampling and continuous sensors with satellite remote sensing could provide water quality information in unmonitored basins and track the evolution of water quality effects from wildfire downstream of the fire. Here we describe preliminary efforts, challenges, and gaps following wildfire in (1) collecting discrete storm samples and continuous sensor deployment, (2) remote sensing of landscape conditions affecting water quality, (3) direct remote sensing of water quality or proxies, and (4) integration of stream measurements and remote sensing data. This work shows promise for building a scalable framework, where change can be assessed independently at the basin level, as well as aggregated to a regional level, land managers and stakeholders will have the necessary tools to aid the decision-making process for managing public resources.