My thesis investigates the balance of erosion control with contemporary wildland fire objectives in the Lake Tahoe Basin. I am developing an understanding of the amount of organic matter that, following fuel reduction treatments, is required to be left on the forest floor in order to prevent significant erosion. To do this I conducted an experiment that simulated snowmelt runoff within eight sites where fuels were treated with mechanical mastication and eight sites where fuels were treated with prescribed fire. I am currently analyzing the data from the past two summers of field work and looking forward to publishing the results of our study in the near future.

Nick Harrison graduated in 2012 and is currently a Lead Watershed Technician at Green Diamond Resource Company.