Source Exposure Index (in "A regional-scale index for assessing the exposure of drinking-water sources to wildfires")

PDF of A Regional-Scale Index for Assessing the Exposure of Drinking-Water Sources to Wildfires:
https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/10/5/384/pdf

ABMI
https://www.abmi.ca/home.html

Canada Forest Service
https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/our-natural-resources/forests/13497

Geospatial polygon data providing information on wildfire threats to drinking water resource in source watersheds of Alberta. Diverse spatial and tabular data sources relative to historical fire activity, water availability, and population were aggregated at the watershed level to create standardized indicators necessary for the creation if the Source Exposure Index

Type of Data: Previous collected research data

Parameter/variable Unit Frequency Instrument/tools/model used for parameter/variable collection/analysis/simulation

Consumers Number of people - GIS software

Watersheds Km² - GIS software

Water yield m3 km−2 yr−1 - Hydrometric gauges, statistical software, and GIS software

Forest percent - Protective forest cover % - RS and GIS software

Fire Weather Index Unitless - Weather stations, statistical software, and GIS software

The objective of this research is to look at wildfires in socio-hydrological systems in Alberta.

Severe wildfires can pose challenges to drinking water facilities by straining treatment response capacities, increasing operating costs, and jeopardizing their ability to supply consumers. Identifying community watersheds that are dangerously exposed to wildfire is thus important. We integrated information on forest cover, fire danger, water availability, and population served to produce a spatial index of watershed exposure to wildfires in the province of Alberta, Canada. We found that >2/3 of the population of the province relies on drinking-water supplies originating in forested watersheds and that watersheds supplying small drinking water treatment plants are particularly exposed, especially in central Alberta. The index can help regional authorities prioritize the allocation of risk management resources to mitigate adverse impacts from wildfire.

A Regional-Scale Index for Assessing the Exposure of Drinking-Water Sources to Wildfires
April 2019 Forests 384 https://doi.org/10.3390/f10050384

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