Open Access

Ioana Bouvier, P. Caldwell, P. Houser

• This study used dense time-series satellite imagery, field data and historical streamflow records in a paired catchment approach to 1) estimate burn severity across a large ecoregion; 2) analyze vegetation recovery and 3) evaluate the effects of forest disturbance on annual water yield. While wildfire is an important driver of annual forest disturbance in Western United States, forest disturbance due to fire is infrequent in the Eastern United States. Changes in wildfire frequency and intensity amid climate variability are anticipated to increasingly impact forest ecosystems in regions with rare fire occurrence, and where fire effects on vegetation and watershed hydrology are under-studied. This research knowledge gap could impact managers that need dependable data and models to anticipate and plan for potential impacts on forested watersheds and water supply. Results from analysis of satellite time series within burned areas indicate post-fire vegetation decline and recovery in theThis study used dense time-series satellite imagery, field data and historical streamflow records in a paired catchment approach to 1) estimate burn severity across a large ecoregion; 2) analyze vegetation recovery and 3) evaluate the effects of forest disturbance on annual water yield. While wildfire is an important driver of annual forest disturbance in Western United States, forest disturbance due to fire is infrequent in the Eastern United States. Changes in wildfire frequency and intensity amid climate variability are anticipated to increasingly impact forest ecosystems in regions with rare fire occurrence, and where fire effects on vegetation and watershed hydrology are under-studied. This research knowledge gap could impact managers that need dependable data and models to anticipate and plan for potential impacts on forested watersheds and water supply. Results from analysis of satellite time series within burned areas indicate post-fire vegetation decline and recovery in the largest wildfire perimeters. In a burned forested watershed, annual water yield was significantly impacted by forest disturbance, with an increase of up to 25 % in the years immediately following wildfire. These results are novel and significant for improving our understanding of infrequent wildfire impacts on vegetation recovery and water supply.…