In this air quality assessment, aerial photo attributes and an emissions inventory approach were used to estimate smoke production over time for the Deschutes, Grand Ronde, Methow, Pend Oreille, Wenatchee, and Yakima river basins in eastern Oregon and eastern Washington. Emissions of particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) changed significantly over time (P=0.10) for three of the river basins. For example, PM10 produced from wildfires burning today in the Grande Ronde River Basin have increased by 80 pounds per acre from the historic period. Increases occurred because of a vegetation type and density shift over time in the Grande Ronde. This assessment showed that wildfires would produce nearly twice the amount of smoke as prescribed fire for the current period for all river basins. Tradeoffs in air quality in terms of past and current smoke production, and differences in prescribed fire versus wildfire smoke production, will enable society to make informed decisions with regards to managed fire, wildfire, air quality, and forest health.