Streamflow regime characterization in the changing boreal ecosystem: Wildfire impacts from stream-to-regional scales

Science of the Total Environment
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Abstract

The boreal ecosystem has experienced significant changes over recent decades as wildfires become more frequent, intense, and severe. As streams are highly prevalent and ecologically relevant, understanding interactions among wildfire and hydrologic patterns is important for effective aquatic ecosystem management. This study used a Bayesian mixture model to classify streamflow regimes from modeled streamflow data for 32,730 stream reaches (totaling 295,880 km) across the Yukon and Kuskokwim basins and the Northwestern Boreal Ecosystem in Alaska, USA, and Yukon Territory, Canada. We assessed time since burn and calculated the total length of stream (km) within burn perimeters for each streamflow class from 1985 to 2015. Additionally, we used field observations (2018–2022) to compare streamflow regimes in four burned and four unburned headwater streams (drainage basins ≤150 km2) in interior Alaska. Modeled stream reaches were grouped into twenty-two classes and reduced to eleven metaclasses based on similarities in streamflow statistics. These metaclasses formed two broad groups: 1) large rivers with lower variability and strong seasonal signals, and 2) mid- to small-sized tributaries with high variability, frequent high flow events, and weaker seasonal signals. The stream length burned analysis indicated an average increase of 47 km per year with first- and second-order streams experiencing more frequent fire. Empirical streamflow metrics from headwater stream gages revealed additional differences in streamflow patterns between burned and unburned streams. This streamflow classification establishes a baseline for understanding boreal stream responses to wildfire, detecting climate-induced regime shifts, and facilitating management and conservation of important boreal aquatic species.

Suggested Citation

Strohm, D.D., Sergeant, C.J., Paul, J.D., Falke, J.A., 2025, Streamflow regime characterization in the changing boreal ecosystem: Wildfire impacts from stream-to-regional scales: Science of the Total Environment, v. 991, 179770, 14 p., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179770.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Streamflow regime characterization in the changing boreal ecosystem: Wildfire impacts from stream-to-regional scales
Series title Science of the Total Environment
DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179770
Volume 991
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Seattle
Description 179770, 14 p.
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Boreal Yukon-Kuskokwim study area
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