Water and sediment geochemistry in the Gallinas Creek Watershed, New Mexico following the Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon fire 2022-2023

This data set was collected throughout the Gallinas watershed in New, Mexico following the Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon fires on April 6, 2022. The watershed has a history of mining and prospecting, which acts as an additional stressor to post-wildfire water quality and ecosystem health. Water samples were collected immediately post-fire. Water, sediment deposit and bed sediment samples were collected in October 2022 and April 2023, 6 months and 1-year post-fire. Samples were collected from Gallinas Creek and its tributaries. Geochemical analyses of water samples include major and trace metals via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), total organic carbon, and major anions (sulfate, nitrate). Sediment deposit samples were exposed to various extractions including water extractions, sequential extractions and aqua regia. The extractions were analyzed for major and trace metals via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and ICP-MS, total organic carbon, and major anions (sulfate, nitrate). Weight percentage of carbon and nitrogen in the sediment deposits were also analyzed. Bed sediments were digested with aqua regia and analyzed for metals via ICP-MS. The data collectively demonstrate the effects of wildfire in a disturbed environment on water quality and ecosystem health.