Protecting Post-Fire Water Resources with Mulch and Check Dams

Wildfires compromise water resources by increasing flow velocity, turbidity, and total suspended solids (TSS). This report proposes the solution of mixed check dams and wood mulching coupled with native seed application to improve water quality post-wildfire. A hypothetical burn scenario was created in Lytle Creek Watershed to model the solutions with realistic conditions. The pilot model scaled to one acre quantified a reduction of 69% in TSS, 71% in turbidity, and 70% in flow velocity. For full-scale implementation, 36 mixed check dams and 425 acres of mulch would be applied, allowing for a rapid deployment of approximately two weeks. The proposed solution is time and cost efficient, allowing for preservation of critical water resources and ecosystem health following wildfire events.