Effects of Wildfire on the Hydrology of Frijoles and Capulin Canyons in and near Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico 141-02 2002
Veenhuis JE and Bowman PR. 2022. Effects of Wildfire on the Hydrology of Frijoles and Capulin Canyons in and near Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico 141-02 2002. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Fact Sheet. National Park Service
In June 1977, the La Mesa wildfire burned 15,270 acres in and near Frijoles Canyon in Bandelier National Monument (BNM) and the adjacent Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico (fig. 1). In April 1996,the Dome wildfire in BNM burned 16,516 acres in and near Capulin Canyon and the surrounding Dome Wilderness area. Both Frijoles and Capulin Canyon watersheds are characterized by archeological artifacts that could be affected by increased runoff and accelerated rates of erosion, which typically occur after a fire. In response to this concern, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Park Service, conducted a study to monitor and document the wildfireeffects on streamflow after the 1996 Dome fire.Post-fire hydrologic changes have been observed, but not often documented, for wildfires in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming. In 1996, the Hondo fire near Taos, New Mexico; the Buffalo Creek fire near Denver, Colorado; a fire in the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, New Mexico; and a fire in Mesa Verde National Monument all caused large increases in the magnitude of storm flows. In general, after each fire, peak flows increased, erosion and corresponding sediment transport increased, and channel geometry changed. This Fact Sheet summarizes the effects of the 1977 La Mesa wildfire on thehydrology of Frijoles Canyon and the 1996 Dome wildfire on the hydrology of Capulin Canyon in and near BNM from July 1996 to November 1998.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Veenhuis, Jack; Bowman, Phillip
- Date of Issue
- 2022-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- BAND , HIST
- Keywords
- Aquatic Sciences, Bandelier, Canyons, Capulin, Capulin Canyon (New Mexico), ehistory, Fire Effects, frijoles, Frijoles Canyon (New Mexico), History, Hydrology, Hydrology (Surface), monument, National Monument, New Mexico, Wildfires - Environmental aspects, Wildlife