Post-Fire Watershed Assessment and Stream Restoration
Jim Nankervis
Blue Mountain Consultants
Berthoud, CO
All that is bad about forest fires is made worse by the floods and debris flows that potentially follow. The challenge to those tasked with dealing with the post-fire aftermath in stream channels is figuring out what to do, where to do it and in what order. A valuable tool to address these concerns is the WARSSS methodology, developed by Wildland Hydrology, which allows practitioners to evaluate watersheds of any size in a consistent, comparative manner to identify processes and the extent of impairment by location. The results of a WARSSS study (Watershed Assessment for River Stability and Sediment Supply) are used to direct master restoration plans that prioritize locations with disproportionately high sediment sources related to hydrologic, hillslope and channel processes in order to restore stability and function to stream and riparian systems, and promote an acceleration of the watershed recovery processes. Large-scale WARSSS analyses have been conducted on several forest fires in Colorado including the Hayman (2002) and Waldo Canyon (2012) fires. Typical design scenarios were developed for post-fire stream restoration priorities related to individual erosional/depositional processes by specific sub-watershed locations. The Trail Creek restoration (Hayman Fire) is presented as an example of a variety of restoration techniques employed to address the specific sediment issues, by location, within this watershed.
About Jim Nankervis
James Nankervis, fishery biologist and senior scientist with Blue Mountain Consultants, LLC, Berthoud, Colorado. Mr. Nankervis has over 45 years of experience in the fields of fishery/aquatic biology, hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, sediment transport, and statistical analyses. In addition to research and monitoring projects, Mr. Nankervis has performed numerous biological and physical assessments resulting in the development and implementation of large-scale river restoration projects both as a principal and co-investigator. This broad experience allows Mr. Nankervis to integrate the multi-faceted components of watershed and riverine systems in order to develop practical and sustainable solutions for difficult problems.