Fire in North American Wetland Ecosystems and Fire-Wildlife Relations: An Annotated Bibliography

48. Cooper, C. F. 1971. Effects of prescribed burning on the ecosystem. Pages 
         152-159 in USDA Forest Service. Prescribed burning symposium proceedings. 
         Southeast. For. Exp. Stn., Asheville, NC.

This paper summarizes the symposium. With regard to water-related issues, the value of fire in reducing water retention and increasing streamflow is marginal. Sediment yields are high immediately after fire, especially on rugged terrain. In the Southeast, properly managed fire should not adversely affect water quantity or quality. Caution is urged in combining burning with nitrogen fertilization because of hazards to health of high levels of nitrate in ground water and surface runoff. [K-L-S]

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