Wildfires rejuvenate landscapes by clearing out dead brush and releasing nutrients from vegetation and soils, but urban fires lead to a toxic fallout that endangers stream ecosystems.
After the Camp Fire, it became clear that the remnants of urban conflagrations introduce synthetic materials into waterways, which can have devastating effects on the delicate balance of aquatic life.
Benthic macroinvertebrates such as mayflies serve as indicators of water quality, and they are crucial for a healthy ecosystem but are jeopardized by toxic runoff from burned urban areas.
Charred trees are visible after wildfires, but the more insidious impact occurs beneath the surface, harming the stream creatures that indicate the water's health.
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