Post-Fire Water Quality Monitoring Framework

Link to original Water Board wiki page --> http://wiki/swamp/doku.php?id=post_fire_monitoring

Problem Statement: At the December 2017 DMC meeting, the North Coast Regional Board reported their efforts and needs for addressing the Napa and Sonoma fires. The North Coast RB requested help for identifying resources to pay for monitoring water quality for future fires and they stated that management would benefit from better access to information in responding to post fires. Water quality monitoring would occur after the first emergency response. 

Project Charter

What is a Wildfire? A wildfire is any instance of uncontrolled burning in grasslands, brush or woodlands. Wildfires can be caused by lightning, human carelessness or arson. Wildfires often begin unnoticed spread quickly and present a direct risk to property and infrastructure, in addition to potential degradation of the water supply. In some cases, source water quality issues can persist for 5-10 years following a wildfire. Areas that have experienced a wildfire are also at an increased risk of flash flooding and mudslides because the ground where vegetation has burned away cannot effectively absorb rainwater. Often, post-fire impacts (including those impacts resulting from flash floods) are more detrimental to drinking water and wastewater systems than the fire itself. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Actions to Recover from a Wildfire

• 1. Assess Currently Available Data

     1. • U.S. Forest Service Active Fire Mapping Program

          • • Map and Information (Burnt Area, Containment Status, Expected Containment) of Large Incidents

        • USGS Emergency Assessment of Post-Fire Debris-Flow Hazards

          • • Interactive Map and Information for select fires (basin morphometry, burn severity, soil properties, and rainfall characteristics to estimate the probability and volume of debris flows that may occur in response to a design storm)

        • National Interagency Coordination Center

          • • Map, data, resources needed for decision support information in anticipating significant fire activity and determining resource allocation needs

        • National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook

          • • Forecasts of Wildland Fires for July - October 2018. Issued July 1, 2018

        • 2017-2018 Post-Fire Water Quality Monitoring

          • • City of Redding Carr Fire Activity

        • Carr Fire Activity Map

          • • Dashboard of Post-Fire Water Quality Monitoring in San Francisco Bay Region

        • 2018 Water Quality Status Report

          • • Land to Sea Connectivity Story Map

        • All SWAMP and CEDEN Monitoring Stations

          • • Dashboard of All SWAMP and CEDEN Monitoring Stations

        • 2017-2018 SWAMP Stations

          • • Interactive Map of SWAMP monitoring stations for 2017 and 2018

        • USEPA Northern California Wildfire Response Interactive Map

          • • Map of Fire Impact Zones

        • Cal Fire Statewide Fire Map

          • • General locations of major fires burning in California

        • Ambient Bioassessment Data Dashboard

          • • Statewide biological, nutrient, and conventional data collected from different landscapes

        • Drinking Water Project Locations Dashboard

          • • Locations of Drinking Water Projects

        • Contaminants of Emerging Concern Dashboard

          • • Overview of statewide monitoring for contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in California`s ambient surface water

  2. After Assessment, Coordinate with Emergency Response Technical Working Group (ERTWG)

     1. • If sufficient data, identify and deploy resources to implement Best Management Practices (BMP)

        • If insufficient data, identify and deploy resources to design and implement monitoring program to answer management questions

          • • What is the likely effect of post-fire runoff on downstream receiving waters?

            • How can management practices reduce pollutant loading associated with post-fire runoff?

  3. Monitor the Watershed

     1. • BMP Effectiveness

        • Post-Fire Runoff Effects

  4. Evaluate Process

  5. Iterate Back to Step 1

     1. • Use evaluation/feedback to improve process

Implement BMP: (Post-Fire BMP Quick Guide - North Coast Region)

• • Erosion Control BMPs

    • • Compost Blankets - Absorbs 10x its weight in water before runoff occurs: binds heavy metals, breaks down hydrocarbons, encourages vegetation growth

      • Straw Mulch

      • Hydraulic Mulch "Hydromulch"- Slurry of fibers and tackifier hydraulically sprayed on disturbed areas, aka, bonded fiber matrix

      • Erosion Control Blankets

      • Check Dams (Runoff Control)

  • Sediment Control BMPs

    • • Fiber Rolls "Wattles" - Slow water flow and encourage suspended materials to settle while water pools behind the roll

      • Compost Berm - A linear, trapezoidal shaped berm of compost for sediment control and pollutant filtration

      • Silt Fence- Pond water behind fence to encourage solid settlement

      • Drain Inlet Protection

Implement BMP: (Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program's Most Frequently Installed BMPs 2006 - 2018)

• • Sediment Control BMPs

    • • Fence - Control movement of animals, people, vehicles

      • Access Road - Fixed route for vehicle travel for management of timber, livestock, agriculture, wildlife habitat, and other conservation

      • Stream Crossing - Stabilize area or structure constructed across a stream to control access of people, livestock, equipment, or vehicles. Improves water quality by reducing sediment, nutrient, or organic loading to a stream

      • Mulching - apply plant residues or other suitable materials to land surface

      • Stormwater Runoff Control - minimize erosion and sedimentation during and following construction. Also improves the quality of stormwater leaving developing sites

      • Road Ditch Creation/Improvements - U-shaped ditches that effectively drain roads. Can reduce cost of road maintenance and alleviate drainage problems

      • Grade Stabilization Structure - Stabilize grade, reduce erosion, or improve water quality

      • Ditch Stabilization - Lined ditches that intercept, divert, and convey surface runoff around or through the project site in a non-erosive manner

      • Streambank and Shoreline Protection - stabilize and protect banks of streams or constructed channels, and shorelines of lakes, reservoirs, or estuaries

      • Forest-Erosion control - design and treatment of trails, water crossings and landings to mitigate non-point source pollution, maintain water quality and healthy habitat, and optimize diversity of native plants and animal species

      • Critical Area Planting - establish permanent vegetation on sites that have or are expected to have high erosion rates

      • Road/Landing Removal - Closure, decommissioning, or abandonment of roads, trails, and/or landings to achieve conservation objectives

      • Roof Runoff Management - Protect surface water quality by excluding roof runoff from contaminated areas, protect a structure foundation from water damage or soil erosion from excess water runoff and capture water for other uses

      • Stream Habitat Improvement and Management - maintain, improve or restore physical, chemical and biological functions of a stream, and its associated riparian zone, necessary for meeting the life history requirements of desired aquatic species

      • Cover Crop - Reduces erosion from wind and water, maintains or increases soil health, and reduces water quality degradation by utilizing excessive soil nutrients

      • Tree/Shrub Establishment - Controls erosion, maintain or improve plant diversity, productivity and improves water quality by reducing excess nutrients and other pollutants in runoff and groundwater

      • Structure for Water Control - Water management system used to control the stage, discharge, distribution, delivery, or direction of water flow

      • Filter Strip - Reduces suspended solids and associated contaminants in runoff and excessive sediment in surface waters

      • Restoration of Compacted Soils - Restores function to compacted soils by increasing porosity and nutrient retention

      • Infiltration Basin - Reduce nutrient, pathogen, and pesticide loading from agriculture drainage systems into downstream receiving waters

Design Monitoring Study to Answer Management Question (Southern California Coastal Water Research Project)

Resources