PROJECT

FRISCO developed the information and tools needed to address its research question through five different tasks:

TASK 1 (T1) characterized fire impacts on vegetation and soils in mainland Portugal in the last 20 years, by combining satellite imagery and field data;

TASK 2 (T2) used T1 information and combine it with new developments in connectivity theory and modelling, to characterize the impacts of these fires on contaminant mobilization and transport to streams for key water supply sources in Portugal; 

TASK 3 (T3) performed in coordination with water managers, used historical water quality data to identify post-fire contamination episodes in these key water supply sources in the last 20 years, and assess the main drivers;

TASK 4 (T4) developed a post-fire water contamination risk index, based on a statistical analysis of information on the fire impacts on vegetation and soils (T1), contamination mobilization and transport (T2), and occurrence of contamination episodes (T3). It was co-developed with water managers. This information was used to build an online tool, that can be applied with information readily available after the occurrence of fires for a fast risk assessment; 

TASK 5 (T5) integrated a sediment/ash mobilization algorithm into a stochastic fire occurrence model, applied to 2 study areas in Portugal representing key water supply sources. This model was used to compare mitigation solutions: pre-fire forest management and emergency hillslope stabilization. The results of this task and of the project were summarized in a practical handbook on best practices for post-fire contamination management, which is available online. 

Project FRISCO advanced the state of the art on the relations between fire, vegetation, soils and water; helped understand and assess fire impacts on the provision of hydrological services by forests; and provided new tools and information to help water managers address these impacts.