"Water and wildfires: How returning fire to mountain landscapes affects rivers, snowpack, and forest health" by Dr. Gabrielle Boisrame, Delta Stewardship Council & UC Berkeley. The Sierra Nevada mountains provide most of California's water. A century of fire suppression in this fire-adapted region has led to unnaturally dense forests, which can reduce streamflows and snowpack, as well as make forests more vulnerable to droughts. A combination of field measurements, aerial photos, and model results show how returning wildfires to the Illilouette Creek watershed in the Yosemite wilderness has increased forest health and benefited water supply.

The Forum will take place Tuesday, February 13, from 3:30 4:30 pm in the Yosemite Valley Auditorium. Please contact Greg Stock at 379-1420 for additional information.