Wildfires and our Fisheries
Continued
Past the immediate changes for those fish that did survive they face major changes to their habitats. Trees that once provided share and cooling abilities for the waters are now gone after a fast moving fire. This makes water temps of exposed waters in the hotter months unsuitable for some fish like the cold water trout. It can also be very rough on the eggs and fry that might have hatched and survived the actual fire. The U.S. Forest Service states that because of the lack of shade from trees we see a dramatic decrease in the fish population weeks to months after a wildfire burns through. The Actual firefighting efforts are also very damaging as well to the fisheries. Boots on the ground from firefighters are another challenge for the fisheries. These firefighters are just doing their job but in turn they are trampoline through these waters and small streams. This again is causing changes and disturbance to these waters which can be disastrous in the long term.
Phos-Chek is another big issue to the long term sustainability of the fisheries due to wildfires. Phos-Chek or fire retardant, contain about 85% water, 10% fertilizer, and 5% minor ingredients: colorant (iron oxide - rust, or fugitive color that fades with exposure to sunlight), thickener (natural gum and clay), corrosion inhibitors, stabilizers, and bactericides. The concerns of the fire retardants is the fertilizer found at a 10% level when used. As we know the fire retardants are used to stop or at least slow the spread of fire. It basically works by reducing the flammability of the surrounding fuels. This is achieved in 3 possible methods.
1. Vapor Phase Inhibition - a general
cooling is introduced, and the
available supply of flammable gas
is thus suppressed or lowered.
2. Solid Phase Char Formation Principle -
Fire retardants which are based on the
solid phase char formation principle,
help promote a buildup of the char layer
after any fire is already in progress.
3. Quenching Cool Systems - Quenching
cool systems take advantage of an
endothermic reaction that occurs
during a fire. Hydrated minerals give
off water molecules which cool the
polymer and disrupt the process of
combustion.