The WY-MT WSC is collaborating with the USGS Water Mission Area and other federal and state partners to quantify and understand the effects wildfires have on water quality. These findings provide high value datasets to researchers and assist resource managers with decision making in fire-prone landscapes throughout Wyoming and Montana.
Two watersheds are currently being studied in Montana. Each watershed has one primary streamgage recording discharge, water temperatures, specific conductance and turbidity. Additionally, water samples are collected on a fixed frequency and during storm events with an automatic sampler to determine trace metal, nutrient, and suspended sediment concentrations. Within each watershed are two precipitation gages recording rainfall quantity and intensity at different elevations.
Links to USGS sites can be found below:
Shields River Drainage:
Shields River ab Smith Cr, nr Wilsall, MT - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Shields R Precip Station nr Wilsall, MT - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Dugout Cr Precip Station nr Wilsall, MT - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Camas Creek Drainage:
Camas C nr Mouth nr White Sulphur Springs MT - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Camas Cr Precip Station nr White Sulphur Springs - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Mule Cr Met Station nr White Sulphur Springs, MT - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Below are projects associated with this study.
Water Quality After Wildfire
- Overview
The WY-MT WSC is collaborating with the USGS Water Mission Area and other federal and state partners to quantify and understand the effects wildfires have on water quality. These findings provide high value datasets to researchers and assist resource managers with decision making in fire-prone landscapes throughout Wyoming and Montana.
Two watersheds are currently being studied in Montana. Each watershed has one primary streamgage recording discharge, water temperatures, specific conductance and turbidity. Additionally, water samples are collected on a fixed frequency and during storm events with an automatic sampler to determine trace metal, nutrient, and suspended sediment concentrations. Within each watershed are two precipitation gages recording rainfall quantity and intensity at different elevations.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Dugout Creek Precipitation Station (USGS 461105110224701) in the Shields River headwaters.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Samples retrieved from Camas Creek (USGS 06076590) after a convective storm event on July 25, 2022.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Mule Creek Met Station (USGS 463507111154201) in the Camas Creek headwaters.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Watershed boundaries for Shields River ab Smith Cr, nr Wilsall, MT (USGS 06192980) and Camas Creek nr Mouth nr White Sulphur Springs, MT (USGS 06076590). American Fork Fire (2021) and Woods Creek (2021) burn severity and perimeters also pictured. Links to USGS sites can be found below:
Shields River Drainage:
Shields River ab Smith Cr, nr Wilsall, MT - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Shields R Precip Station nr Wilsall, MT - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Dugout Cr Precip Station nr Wilsall, MT - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Camas Creek Drainage:
Camas C nr Mouth nr White Sulphur Springs MT - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Camas Cr Precip Station nr White Sulphur Springs - USGS Water Data for the Nation
Mule Cr Met Station nr White Sulphur Springs, MT - USGS Water Data for the Nation
- Science
Below are projects associated with this study.
Water Quality After Wildfire
Wildfires pose a substantial risk to water supplies because they can lead to severe flooding, erosion, and delivery of sediment, nutrients, and metals to rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. The USGS works with federal and state land managers and local water providers to monitor and assess water quality after wildfires in order to help protect our Nation’s water resources. - Partners