Wells and Wildfires: Integrating freshwater into wild fire risk assessments

Fire is an essential component of many ecosystems. Anthropogenic factors have altered natural and indigenous fire cycles resulting in catastrophic wildfire and ecosystem changes with profound socio-ecological impacts. Prescribed fire and community wildfire planning are increasingly valuable tools for managing for beneficial effects of wildfire. Inputs to these tools historically rely only on field and remote sensing-based metrics of above ground processes (e.g. vegetation, topography, fuels, wind). Critically, there has been little work directed at integrating freshwater and particularly groundwater into models of fire risk, fire related decision-support tools, and as derived inputs to community wildfire protection plans, prescribed burn plans, and statewide assessments of fire risk. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is currently engaged in several decision-making activities with regional and local stakeholders around regional prescribed burning and community wildfire protection planning.