Forest Fire: Effects on Phosphorus Movement to Lakes

Abstract
After a wildfire in the virgin forest of a lake-watershed region in northeastern Minnesota, the phosphorus concentration in the runoff was elevated for 2 years and decreased in the third year. However, there was no increase in the phosphorus concentrations of a lake and its input stream. This indicates that, under similar circumstances, controlled burning will not damage streams or lakes by elevating phosphorus levels.
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