SoCal EcoServe: an online mapping tool to estimate wildfire impacts in southern California

Abstract

Background

Wildfires in Mediterranean-type climate regions have numerous impacts on the ecosystem services provided by native shrublands, however, quantifying these impacts is challenging.

Aims

We developed a reproducible method to quantify fire impacts on ecosystem services and created a tool for resource managers in southern California.

Methods

The SoCal EcoServe tool consists of two components: a desktop tool and an online mapping tool. We used the Alisal Fire of 2021 as a case study and quantified: aboveground live carbon storage using pre- and post-fire biomass data; water runoff, groundwater recharge and sediment erosion retention by integrating data on burn severity into hydrological and sediment erosion models; and estimated recreation services and biodiversity using pre-fire data.

Key results

We estimated the Alisal Fire resulted in an immediate post-fire reduction in carbon storage of 25%, of which 20% was estimated to be permanently lost. Water runoff increased by 21%, groundwater recharge 7-fold, and sediment erosion increased 24-fold.

Conclusions

The EcoServe tool provides an initial approximation of wildfire impacts that can support damage assessments post-fire, track carbon storage and help identify priorities for post-fire restoration.

Implications

We intend the tool to be used by USDA Forest Service resource managers of shurblands in southern California. However, it can provide the framework for future work in shrublands throughout the western USA.