Wildfire disturbance propagation along fluvial networks remains poorly understood. This study uses data from the largest wildfire in New Mexico's history (Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, burning 1382 km²) to quantify its effects on surface runoff and water quality. Post-fire, surface runoff increased, and even sites >160 km downstream experienced shifts in water quality parameters for months. The study highlights the need for spatially resolved longitudinal sampling in wildfire water quality research and the spatiotemporal interdependence of atmospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic processes in wildfire disturbance propagation.

Justin Nichols, Eric Joseph, Asmita Kaphle, Paige Tunby, Lina Rodríguez, Aashish Khandelwal, Justin Reale, Peter Regier, David J. Van Horn, Ricardo González-Pinzón