Scientists' warning on extreme wildfire risks to water supply.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Hydrology
• Ecology

Background:

• 2020 saw record-breaking wildfires globally, including in California and Australia, causing significant ecological and economic damage.
• Wildfires disrupt watershed services, leading to increased runoff, erosion, and contamination of water supplies.
• Post-fire hazards like flash floods and mudslides pose long-term risks to drinking water, aquatic ecosystems, and socio-economic activities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the growing threat of wildfire-related water crises.
• To advocate for proactive wildfire-watershed risk governance.
• To propose strategies for integrating data analytics and existing tools for water and land managers.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of recent wildfire events and their hydrological impacts.
• Review of existing data and knowledge on post-fire hydrology.
• Proposal for combined green and grey infrastructure solutions.

Main Results:

• Wildfire activity is increasing globally, posing systemic risks to water security.
• Post-fire watershed effects, including erosion and contamination, significantly impact water resources.
• A proactive approach to risk governance is essential to mitigate these impacts.

Conclusions:

• Societies must adapt to a new reality of increased fire activity and water crises.
• Effective wildfire-watershed risk governance requires investment in both natural (green) and built (grey) infrastructure.
• Modern data analytics, combined with existing tools, can enhance management strategies for post-fire hydrology.