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The NWFSC Scientific Publications Database serves as an archival repository of NWFSC-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, technical memorandums, reports, or other information authored or co-authored by NWFSC or funded partners. As a repository, the SPD retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.

NOAA Fisheries Northwest Science Center Publication Details

CitationPeter Kiffney 2026. Post-Wildfire Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystem Response in the US Pacific Northwest: Science and Monitoring Gaps. , 2. (10.1088/3033-4942/ae36cb)
TitlePost-Wildfire Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystem Response in the US Pacific Northwest: Science and Monitoring Gaps
Publication Year2026
Volume2
KeywordsPacific Northwest, water quality, wildfire, streams, science gaps
AbstractAn increase in the occurrence of large, high severity wildfires in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), USA, has created an urgent need for science to better inform forest management and policy decisions to maintain source water quality in the region. The PNW faces similar challenges as other regions with shifting wildfire regimes and large population centers reliant on water from forested catchments. To identify science, monitoring, and management gaps in the western PNW, this review was collaboratively undertaken by academics, non-government and industry representatives, and local, state, and federal government entities who have been working together since the 2020 Labor Day Fires in Oregon. Focusing on Oregon and Washington, we found that monitoring networks for continuous water quantity and quality cover much of the state with greater representation in western ecoregions, but few studies have analyzed and published these data to capture and communicate the post-fire response. Approximately
Links (10.1088/3033-4942/ae36cb)