Publication

Runoff from Fire Damaged Lands Amended with Biosolids

A new group paper authored by me and colleagues addressing persistent pollution in wildfire burn scars.

Authors

  • Harry Allen, EPA
  • David Crohn, UCR (retired)
  • Veronica Hurtado, LVMWD
  • Susan Chang, LA City Sanitation
  • Greg Kester, CASA

Abstract

Wildfire burn scars may become persistent pollution sources long after fires are contained. Burn scars are subject to increased runoff, leading to erosive loss and impacts to surface water quality such as increased pollution load to surface water from metals and nutrients.

Land reclamation with biosolids products offers a solution to these problems. We tested runoff from burn scar plots reclaimed with a one-time application of 3 types of biosolids products and included a control site with no addition. Nutrients, metals, suspended solids, and other pollutants were measured in samples collected from collection basins following storm events.

The analytical data was weighted for runoff volume. Statistical analysis generated likelihood intervals (Upper Confidence Limits) for mean or median parameters of mass of compounds of interest in runoff or mass exported.

Our results demonstrate that reclaiming burn scars with biosolids outperformed the control in 2 of the 3 cases and does not increase pollutant volume. Biosolids have the added benefit of quickly restoring soil health and encouraging revegetation in burn scar areas. These results provide guidance to land managers and biosolids/compost applicators to understand and monitor these benefits and understand and mitigate potential impacts.

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