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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Javier González-Romero; Manuel López-Vicente; Elena Gómez-Sánchez; Esther Peña-Molina; Pablo Galletero; Pedro A. Plaza-Álvarez; Daniel Moya; Jorge de las Heras; Manuel E. Lucas-Borja
Publication Date: 2021

Forest fires and post-fire practices influence sediment connectivity (SC). In this study, we use the “aggregated index of connectivity” (AIC) to assess SC in five Mediterranean catchments (198 to 1090 ha) affected by a wildfire in 2012 in SE of Spain. Two temporal scenarios were considered, immediately after the fire and before post-fire management, and two years after the fire including all practices (hillslope barriers, check-dams, afforestation, salvage logging and skid trails). One LiDAR-derived DEM (2x2m resolution) was generated, per scenario. The five catchment outlets were established as the computation target (AICOUT), and structural and functional SC were calculated. Index outputs were normalized to make the results of the non-nested catchments comparable (AICN-OUT). The output analysis includes the SC distribution along the catchments and at local scale (929 sub-catchments, 677 in the burned area), the hillslope and channel measures’ effect on SC, and a sedimentological analysis using observed area-specific sediment yield at 10 new (built after post-fire practices) concrete check-dams located in the catchments (SSY; 𝑥⎯⎯=1.94 Mg/ha y; σ=1.22). The catchments with more circular shapes and steeper slopes were those with higher AICN-OUT. The structural SC maps –removing the rainfall erosivity influence– allowed evaluating the actual role played by the post-fire practices that reduced SC ( 𝑥⎯⎯=-1.19%; σ=0.41); while functional SC was linked to the actual change of SC ( 𝑥⎯⎯=+5.32%; σ=0.62). Hillslope treatments resulted in significant changes on AICN-OUT at sub-catchment scale with certain disconnectivity. A good and positive correlation was found between the SSY and the changes of AICN-OUT. However, the coarse DEM resolution explained the lack of effect of the rock check-dams –located on the secondary channels– on AICN-OUT. AICN-OUT proved to be a useful tool for decision making in post-fire restoration, but an optimal input data is still necessary to refine calculations.

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Citation: González-Romero, J.; López-Vicente, M.; Gómez-Sánchez, E.; Peña-Molina, E.; Galletero, P.; Plaza-Alvarez, P.; Moya, D.; De las Heras, J.; Lucas-Borja, M. E. 2021. Post-fire management effects on sediment (dis)connectivity in Mediterranean forest ecosystems: channel and catchment response. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 46(13):2710-2727.

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Keywords:
  • catchment
  • hillslope
  • LiDAR - Light Detection and Ranging
  • Mediterranean forest ecosystems
  • post-fire management
  • sediment connectivity
  • sediments
  • Spain
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Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 64041