Post-Wildfire Sediment Yield in a Sierra Nevada Watershed
Location map of the study area, showing the 2021 Caldor Fire burn zone. The research, conducted in the aftermath of the 221,835-acre (89,773-hectare) Caldor Fire, focused on a heavily logged, forested watershed in California's western Sierra Nevada, and provides findings needed to understand and anticipate post-fire sediment risks. Sediment Increases Threaten Water Resources and Infrastructure Wildfires leave hillslopes vulnerable to erosion, often leading to increased sediment transport in streams. This sediment surge can fill up water-storage space in reservoirs, damage infrastructure, and disrupt water supplies, particularly in regions where fire activity is intensifying due to climate change. Understanding the extent and