Wildfires have long been a feature of the ecosystem in California, and the local plant life has evolved to survive and even thrive in the wake of some low-intensity fires. However, more intense blazes can destroy critical groundcover and long-established plants, and can put the landscape at risk of even greater damage from soil erosion and hydrophobic soil.  

Hydrophobic Soil and Erosion

Not only will a fire destroy the trees, vines, shrubs, grasses and litter layer that bind the soil together and disperse rainwater evenly throughout the terrain, but the intense heat can also coat the soil in a waxy substance that actively repels water and increases runoff. The danger of soil erosion is greatest when: 

• The litter layer has burned off, leaving the ground bare. 
• The canopy has burned away.
• The fire was intense.
• Slopes are steep.
• Rainfall is extreme (El Nino conditions). 
• Soil appears to no longer absorb moisture.

​
Landowners who act quickly can protect their property from post-fire soil erosion. Effective erosion control measures include slash spreading, mulching and seeding, and installing log terraces, straw bales, waterbars or fiber rolls.

​Professional Assistance
​
Our team of experienced civil engineers can assist landowners in creating a plan for erosion control. To learn more, contact us at 707-433-0134, or find us on Facebook, Google+ and subscribe to our blog.

Groundwater is a significant consideration for any construction or engineering undertaking. Water tables can affect both the settling of a structure’s foundation and the action of the soil surrounding the building. Since natural groundwater reserves are a valuable resource to many public and private concerns, the preliminary analysis of any land development project must include a thorough examination of the groundwater systems present in the prospective build site. Our team has worked on many important engineering projects throughout Sonoma County. 

Consequences of Poor Groundwater Studies
A thorough analysis of a potential build site is an essential part of project development. In addition to studying the character of soil and other geologic features, groundwater systems must also be carefully inspected. Failing to do so can have some complex outcomes that are potentially expensive and difficult to fix. For example:

• Individual sources of groundwater can be contaminated when disrupted by build activities.
• Aquifers already affected by abstraction are further disrupted.
• The contamination or disruption of groundwater resources affects agricultural, industrial, and commercial activities.
• Environmental features that rely on the presence and action of ground water systems are significantly disturbed.
• Structure foundations placed below the water table may require basement drainage systems and other solutions to cope with the presence of water.

Groundwater Does Not Have to Be a Problem
Traditionally, groundwater has been regarded as an obstacle that engineering solutions were required to solve. While strategies such as the creation of aquifer cut-off walls and the use of water removal pumps are still important, early identification of the presence of groundwater and the potential obstacles presented by it allow for more effective problem solving. 
​
​Your Engineering Partner
Atterbury & Associates excels at developing the reports required for effective build planning. Contact us today to discuss your next project.