Jonathan W. Long C, Research Ecologist
USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Davis,
California, USA
This study evaluated the effects of forest roads on soil erosion
following a wildfire in a forest using GIS technology and a watershed
soil erosion model. We found that roads could alter flow paths and
reroute sediment, leading to deposition and reducing soil loss in a
burned forest. WEPP-predicted sediment deposition on road surfaces and
in sediment basins were similar to measured deposition.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Running Title: Effect of Roads on Erosion after a Fire