Sushma Tiwari
Colorado State University
| Subject Areas: | Mountain hydrology |
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ABSTRACT:
Wildfire activity is increasing across the western United States, and its impact are clearly visible on snowpack and streamflow in the region. This study examines how streamflow changed after the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire in Northern Colorado. We examined four catchments, one unburned and the others with varying burn extent. We found daily streamflow fluctuations (high flows – low flows) during snowmelt remained similar to pre-fire conditions in the unburned catchment, whereas they were about twice as large in the burned catchment after the fire. Higher fluctuations persisted for first three post-fire years. Daily travel time between snowmelt and streamflow response was also shorter in the burned catchment over the same period. The seasonal timing of streamflow was earlier in burned catchments compared to the unburned catchments. As forest fires become more common, they may alter snowmelt and streamflow, affecting aquatic ecosystems, nutrient transport and downstream water availability.
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Created: July 28, 2026, 4:37 p.m.
Authors: Tiwari, Sushma · Kampf, Stephanie · McGrath, Daniel · Steven R. Fassnacht · Sears, Megan · Miller, Quinn · Puntenney, Kira · Keenan, William · William Selvidge
ABSTRACT:
Wildfire activity is increasing across the western United States, and its impact are clearly visible on snowpack and streamflow in the region. This study examines how streamflow changed after the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire in Northern Colorado. We examined four catchments, one unburned and the others with varying burn extent. We found daily streamflow fluctuations (high flows – low flows) during snowmelt remained similar to pre-fire conditions in the unburned catchment, whereas they were about twice as large in the burned catchment after the fire. Higher fluctuations persisted for first three post-fire years. Daily travel time between snowmelt and streamflow response was also shorter in the burned catchment over the same period. The seasonal timing of streamflow was earlier in burned catchments compared to the unburned catchments. As forest fires become more common, they may alter snowmelt and streamflow, affecting aquatic ecosystems, nutrient transport and downstream water availability.