Event Type : Featured

The drastic changes on the landscape after catastrophic wildfires, like the 2018 Spring Fire and the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire, affects ecosystems and how water moves across the land. High intensity wildfires scorch soil and greatly reduce the amount of vegetation on hillslopes. When rain comes down over the burn scar, these barren slopes allow water to move quickly downhill because very little stands in the way to slow down the flow or absorb the water. The steep mountainsides and highly erosive granite soils found in our region further complicate problems with flooding. As more water rushes down and picks up speed, it is collecting sediment and debris. These debris-laden floodwaters are highly destructive to anything in their path, including homes, habitats, and streams.