Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID WY_2025_67_Germain

Quantifying Wyoming forest metrics to better manage wildland fire fuel loads and increase watershed health and surface/subsurface water quality

Institute: Wyoming
Year Established: 2025 Start Date: 2026-01-01 End Date: 2026-12-31
Total Federal Funds: $14,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $21,092

Principal Investigators: Sara Germain

Project Summary: Healthy forests play a vital role in the water cycle by minimizing surface runoff, regulating snowmelt, and increasing downstream water quality. However, forest hydrological functions are threatened by wildfire, which is increasing in frequency and severity across the western USA. Using airborne lidar and field-based sampling, we will create state-wide maps of forest fuel loads and stand structure to analyze wildfire risk in watersheds across the state of Wyoming. Watersheds with higher wildfire risk are expected to have reduced water quality and increased flooding and erosion risk. The results from this work will provide a quantitative analysis on wildfire risk in Wyoming. In particular, the output products and workflows from this research will have an immediate impact and benefit on how state agencies manage forestlands with respect to wildland fire hazards and subsequent watershed health, both of which are notably important to Wyoming considering recent and ongoing wildland fire events.