AWWA WQTC71456

In 2003, the Lost Creek wildfire impacted the upper Oldman River Watershed in Alberta, Canada. It was one of the more severe recorded fires in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. An annular flume was used to study downstream propagation of sediment (and therefore associated contaminants) in burned and reference (unburned) watersheds. Annular flume studies are common to studying downstream contaminant transport and the outcomes are a conceptual analog to annular reactor studies of drinking water distribution systems. Factors including applied shear stress, geochemical and physical properties of the sediment, floc structural characteristics and biofilm growth period (2, 7, 14 days) were examined to determine their effect on sediment erosion and bed stability. Includes 14 references.