Early effects of forest fire on streamflow characteristics

A comparison of streamflow records from three small mountain streams in north-central Washington before, during, and after a severe forest fire showed three immediate effects of destructive burning. These were: Flow rate was greatly reduced while the fire was actively burning. Destruction of vegetation in the riparian zone reduced diurnal oscillation of flow rates. Flow rates quickly increased to points above protracted normal depletion rates but to varying degrees. No drastic immediate change in stream temperatures was noted.