Sagehen Creek Field Station

13 Sep, 01 PM - 18 Sep, 09 AM

The goal of this research project is to evaluate the effects of prescribed burns on the mobilization of mercury (Hg) and other metals, as well as geochemical fluxes, due to enhanced erosion and sediment transport processes within the Sagehen Creek watershed resulting from the implementation of Strategically Placed Area Treatments (SPLAT). The Sagehen Creek watershed is set to undergo these treatments as part of the Fuel Management National Pilot Project. In-depth vegetation and fire fuel surveys conducted on a 500m grid throughout the Sagehen Creek along with high resolution LIDAR maps were produced and inputted into fire behavior models which allowed researchers to map out a treatment strategy which includes mechanical thinning, hand thinning, mastication, and prescribed burning. Consequently, the SPLAT project not only offers essential background data project for this project, but also allows for the identification of areas for intensive pre-treatment terrestrial and aqueous sampling. By enabling coordinated, spatiotemporally dense observations of multiple parameters in terrestrial, aqueous and sediment phases within one watershed system, we intend to elucidate complex transport relationships in watersheds subject to controlled burn treatments. This work addresses fundamental questions on the impacts of fire on the transport and cycling of metals and contaminants in montane watershed systems. Ultimately, we will use the collected data to develop mechanistic and watershed scale models of metal and sediment transport for post-fire watershed systems.

Visit #16079 @Sagehen Creek Field Station

Approved

Under Project # 10466 | Research

The effects of prescribed burning on metal mobilization and transport

graduate_student - University of California, Los Angeles

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 2 Graduate Student Sep 13 - 18, 2008 (6 days)
Megan Burke Sep 13 - 18, 2008 (6 days)
Group of 3 Undergraduate Student Sep 13 - 18, 2008 (6 days)

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Apartment (Lower Camp) 6 Sep 13 - 18, 2008
Burnside Cabin (Upper Camp) 6 Sep 13 - 18, 2008
Classroom 6 Sep 13 - 18, 2008
Johnson Cabin (Upper Camp) 6 Sep 13 - 18, 2008
Lab / Classroom 6 Sep 13 - 18, 2008