After the smoke clears, a wildfire’s legacy can haunt rivers for years, putting drinking water at risk
- Written by Ben Livneh, Associate Professor of Hydrology, University of Colorado Boulder
Burned ground can become hydrophobic and almost waxlike, allowing rainfall to quickly wash contaminants downslope.Carli BruckerPicture a wildfire raging across a forested mountainside. The smoke billows and the flames rise. An aircraft drops vibrant red flame retardant. It’s a dramatic, often dangerous scene. But the threat to water supplies...