Headwaters are the landscapes where California’s streams and rivers begin. … Up until about 150 years ago, most of California’s headwater forests experienced frequent, lower-intensity fires that kept understories open, limited brush, and supported mature, fire-resilient tree species with high, widely spaced canopies—conditions that also helped sustain reliable water supplies. … Fire suppression has allowed vegetation to build up, increasing the risk of high-severity wildfires. This has major implications for the state’s water supply. When headwater forests burn in severe wildfires, those fires disrupt the processes that regulate water supply—reducing snowpack, degrading water quality downstream, and increasing sediment in reservoirs.

Other water and wildfire news:

• KOAA (Grand Junction, Colo.): As Colorado reservoirs dry out, state says plans are in place so firefighting aircrafts can still access water
• AgAlert (California Farm Bureau): Warm, dry start of spring sparks fire season concerns
• Outside Magazine: Why 2026 could be one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent U.S. history
• Eos: Blog: Want to predict wildfire severity? Look to the state of vegetation