Wildfire Impacts on Drinking Water and Air Quality

The frequency and intensity of wildland fires have worsened impacts to the landscape and to the air column, affecting both drinking water and air quality, which, in turn, affect ecosystem and human health, says Environmental Protection Agency researcher John Iiames. In a 7 p.m. Zoom program cosponsored by TCWP and the Arboretum Society on February 22, Dr. Iiames will  share current EPA research on impacts to drinking water quality and the shift of vegetation structure and composition from forest to scrub/shrub due to increasing temperatures and drought conditions.

Over his 23-year career at the EPA, Dr. Iiames has conducted research centering on the examination of the air-water-land interface as it affects both aquatic ecosystems and local and regional air quality.  He currently leads a team research effort investigating the effects of wildfire on drinking water quality and the assessment of prescribed fire burn areas in the Flint Hills National Grassland ecosystem in Kansas.

The program will be free, but participants will need register to receive a Zoom link, to be provided at www.utarboretumsociety.org.  Contact Michelle Campanis at mcampani@utk.edu regarding any questions or registration issues.