Evaluation of Post-burn Hydrologic Recovery of a Small Mountainous Watershed: Upper Campo Bonito Wash in Southern Arizona

Research conducted on burned watersheds throughout the Rockies indicates hydrologic recovery to near pre-burn conditions within 3 to 5 years. This study looks at hydrologic recovery for a small basin in southern Arizona (Figure 1). Two significant flow events are studied in the Campo Bonito watershed. The initial event occurred during the summer immediately following the fires. This event was first documented in National Weather Service (NWS) Western Region Technical Attachment 03-10 (Schaffner 2003). The second event occurred two years later in 2005. This work builds upon the 2003 technical attachment. Improvements include GIS analysis of burn severity, a more detailed look at rainfall frequency, and topographic influence on peak discharge. This study includes charts, maps, and a bibliography