Itasca Water Wisdom Webinar
October 2 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Oct 2, 2025 – When the Forest Burns, What’s in the Water?
https://itascawaters.org/water-wisdom-2025
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Presented By: Sarah Elliott is a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Water Science Center that leads and supports research on various topics. A majority of Sarah’s research the last decade has focused on topics related to the presence of contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic environments and ecological implications. Other areas of research include urban stormwater runoff and treatment, implications of geologically derived contaminants in groundwater, and effects of wildfire on water quality, including a focus on critical drivers of post-wildfire water quality.
Topic Summary: Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe worldwide, leading to significant physical and chemical changes in aquatic ecosystems within affected watersheds. These changes can impact both public water supplies and ecosystem health. In the U.S., research has mainly focused on the wildfire-prone West, where surface waters are a major source of drinking water. Despite growing knowledge, key gaps remain in understanding what drives water quality changes after wildfires. This presentation reviews the current science on post-wildfire water quality and offers recommendations for addressing these knowledge gaps.
