Cascading Systems: Fire and Water

The Coloradoan reported today on the cascading effects of drought, wildfire, and water quality. As the High Park fire near Greeley continues to burn, ash pollution to the Poudre River augments the issues from the area's ongoing drought. Sediment load has spiked due to post-fire erosion. The sediment has clogged drinking water intakes, and pollution levels of inorganic carbon may require expensive chlorination treatment. Ft. Collins has responded to the pollution of the Poudre River, their main drinking water source, by working with CSU and neighboring cities to access Horsetooth Reservoir Water. However, the reservoir depends on spring runoff to replenish its supplies, and since the drought doesn't look like it will abate any time soon, Ft. Collins may have to return to using the sullied water from the Poudre River and implementing expensive water treatment procedures.

This is all illustrative of the cascading effects of wildfire, drought, erosion, and water quality. Climate change scenarios predict that extreme droughts are likely to occur more often in the future, making management of water resources even more of a challenge.