Description:

Complex environmental challenges related to water resource and wildland fire necessitate multidisciplinary approach. Around the world, more than two billion people live in highly water-stressed areas. Many of these areas, including California, are also affected by wildland fires that can significantly exacerbate the water supply problem. 

Wildland and wildland urban interface fires are increasing in size and intensity, are highly destructive, take the lives of firefighters and local residents, devastate large areas, significantly impact air quality, through toxic runoff pollute water supplies, and cause tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in property and environmental damage annually. The threat to water supplies is likely to increase with more frequent large fires.

In this session, hosted by participants of the California Water Data Challenge, and the AMS Ad Hoc Committee on Wildfire Weather, Technology and Risk, wildland fire and water supply problems will be addressed. Invited are stakeholders - ranging from academia, the public sector, and the private sector to convene and engage in a series of critical discussions on wildland fire, weather, and water availability with focus on California rivers. 

Federal, state, local, and tribal governments seek improved weather and climate information, risk assessment tools, and predictive guidance on water supply and wildland fire behavior to make informed tactical and strategic decisions for management of water supply and wildland fires. While weather and climate are the driving component in determining water supply availability and the frequency of occurrence and severity of wildland fires, effective management of water supply and prevention, management, and mitigation of wildfires requires a multidisciplinary approach, spanning many industries and agencies across society. Furthermore, to establish requirements for research and development (R&D) to produce useful tools and actionable information, all the stakeholders must be engaged in assessing the current state of R&D, identify gaps and opportunities, and propose optimal solutions. By sharing knowledge and learning with each other the goal is to address a range of pertinent questions. What are the lessons and best practices, which we have adopted to mitigate against system-wide failure? What are potential solutions to immediate and longer-term risks to the system?

This joint session aims to facilitate connections and support strategic partnerships within and between communities addressing wildfire, weather, and water supply issues to initiate exchanges of ideas with the goal to develop holistic approaches to complex environmental problems.