Skip to main content

FRAMES logo
Resource Catalog

Document

Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Emma C. Underwood; Charlie Schrader-Patton; Allan D. Hollander
Publication Date: 2024

Background: Wildfires in Mediterranean-type climate regions have numerous impacts on the ecosystem services provided by native shrublands, however, quantifying these impacts is challenging.

Aims: We developed a reproducible method to quantify fire impacts on ecosystem services and created a tool for resource managers in southern California.

Methods: The SoCal EcoServe tool consists of two components: a desktop tool and an online mapping tool. We used the Alisal Fire of 2021 as a case study and quantified: aboveground live carbon storage using pre- and post-fire biomass data; water runoff, groundwater recharge and sediment erosion retention by integrating data on burn severity into hydrological and sediment erosion models; and estimated recreation services and biodiversity using pre-fire data.

Key results: We estimated the Alisal Fire resulted in an immediate post-fire reduction in carbon storage of 25%, of which 20% was estimated to be permanently lost. Water runoff increased by 21%, groundwater recharge 7-fold, and sediment erosion increased 24-fold.

Conclusions: The EcoServe tool provides an initial approximation of wildfire impacts that can support damage assessments post-fire, track carbon storage and help identify priorities for post-fire restoration.

Implications: We intend the tool to be used by USDA Forest Service resource managers of shurblands in southern California. However, it can provide the framework for future work in shrublands throughout the western USA.

Online Links
Citation: Underwood, Emma C.; Schrader-Patton, Charlie C.; Hollander, Allan D. 2024. SoCal EcoServe: an online mapping tool to estimate wildfire impacts in southern California. International Journal of Wildland Fire 33:WF23033.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Keywords:
  • biodiversity
  • carbon storage
  • fire impacts
  • groundwater recharge
  • post-fire sediment erosion
  • recreation
  • resource management
  • shrublands
  • stormwater runoff
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 69156