News release: Study to commence on the effects of wildfires and fire retardants in California watersheds
Each year millions of liters of fire-retardant chemicals are applied to wildfires across the nation. The use of these retardants could have significant effects on downstream nutrients. The aim of this study will be to determine which nutrients are likely to increase in concentration in areas affected by wildfire in the western U.S., and whether the use of fire retardants may exacerbate the situation.