Presenter(s): Evelyn Meador − Geologic Sciences
Faculty Mentor(s): Joshua Roering
Poster 5
Research Area: Geological Science
Funding: Presidential Undergraduate Research Scholars
Wildfires are prevalent in the Oregon coast range, but studies on the post-fire geomorphic changes and hazards are limited in the region. Processes like dry ravel movement, hydrophobicity, and tree root strength decreases are present and contribute to land and mudslides, but the extent of which is not known. By repeatedly visiting the Horse Prairie Fire in the Oregon coast Range and observing and documenting changes and sediment movement, we gained insight into the processes that shape post-burn sites. Water, particularly in the form of precipitation, shapes the land after a burn. The rain in the coast range is seasonal, and the site typically experiences monthly storms of one to two inches. These storms move great amounts of post- fire debris and can cause landslides. The goal of this study is to see if there is a correlation between slope angle and sediment transport, which would greatly help organizations like the United States Geological Survey create accurate hazard maps for the Pacific Northwest.