Drought conditions have primed Rocky Mountains for a busy wildfire season, hurting air quality and economy – KHOL 89.1 FM

Report on Drought, Wildfire, and Socio-Economic Impacts in the Western United States

A Critical Challenge to Sustainable Development Goals

This report details the escalating environmental crisis in the Western United States, characterized by severe drought and widespread wildfires. These events present significant challenges to achieving several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Escalating Drought Conditions and Climate Action Urgency (SDG 6, SDG 13)

Hydrological Assessment

The Upper Colorado River Basin, encompassing Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, is experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Hydrological analysis from the Western Water Assessment indicates that persistent, higher-than-normal temperatures are exacerbating the situation. Nels Bjarke, a hydrologist with the assessment, notes that these temperatures intensify the drought through increased evaporation and transpiration, a direct consequence of climate change that undermines progress toward SDG 13 (Climate Action). The reliability of winter snowpack, crucial for water supply, has diminished, transforming previously anomalous dry years into a new, more frequent occurrence. This trend severely threatens regional water security, a core component of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Wildfire Crisis: A Threat to Life on Land (SDG 15, SDG 13)

Fire Incident Overview

The severe drought has created conditions ripe for major wildfires, directly impacting SDG 15 (Life on Land) by devastating terrestrial ecosystems. All recent major fires were initiated by lightning strikes, but their rapid spread is attributed to climate-driven factors.

• Turner Gulch Fire (Colorado): Over 15,700 acres burned.
• South Rim Fire (Colorado): Over 4,000 acres burned.
• Deer Creek Fire (Utah/Colorado): Over 16,300 acres burned.

Fuel and Fire Behavior Analysis

Fire behavior analysts report that vegetation is at historically dry levels. Glen Lewis, an analyst for the Turner Gulch fire, stated that fuel moisture is at or above the 97th percentile for dryness, meaning conditions are drier than 97% of days in the historical record. This extreme aridity, coupled with steep terrain, creates a volatile environment where fires can expand uncontrollably, as evidenced by the Turner Gulch fire growing by 7,000 acres in a single day due to wind shifts. These events underscore the urgent need for climate mitigation and adaptation strategies as outlined in SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Public Health and Community Well-being Under Threat (SDG 3, SDG 11)

Air Quality Degradation

Smoke from the wildfires has caused a significant decline in regional air quality, posing a direct threat to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Federal data from NOAA satellites show extensive smoke plumes, pushing the Air Quality Index (AQI) for much of the Western Slope to over 50, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Research indicates that prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can impair immune system function and cognitive development.

Public Health Response

Public health officials have issued advisories and are taking measures to protect vulnerable populations, including young children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic respiratory conditions. These actions align with the goals of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) to ensure safe and resilient human settlements.

1. Residents are advised to remain indoors with windows and doors closed.
2. Air conditioning systems should be run on recirculation mode.
3. Individuals without air conditioning are encouraged to shelter with neighbors or family who have it.
4. Montrose County Public Health is distributing free KN95 masks to residents.

Economic and Recreational Repercussions (SDG 8, SDG 11)

Impact on Tourism and Local Economy

The wildfires have inflicted severe damage on the regional economy, particularly the outdoor recreation sector, hindering progress toward SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The Bureau of Land Management has closed public lands, and the South Rim Fire has forced the closure of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

• Economic Loss: The closure of the national park alone represents an estimated $35 million annual revenue loss for the local community, impacting businesses and employment.
• Infrastructure Damage: The South Rim of the park is reported to be approximately 85% burned. The park’s maintenance facility and all heavy equipment were destroyed.
• Long-Term Closures: All park campground reservations have been canceled for the year, and access to the inner canyon will remain closed due to the risk of rockfalls from fire-destabilized terrain.

The financial shock to the community highlights the vulnerability of local economies dependent on natural resources and underscores the importance of building economic resilience as a key target within SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses a range of interconnected environmental, social, and economic issues stemming from drought and wildfires in the Western United States. Based on this, the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are addressed:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article directly addresses health impacts from wildfire smoke, which worsens air quality and affects vulnerable populations.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The core issue discussed is the “hot, dry summer” and the “moderate to extreme drought conditions” in the Upper Colorado River Basin, highlighting challenges related to water scarcity.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The economic consequences of the wildfires are detailed, specifically the impact on the local outdoor recreation economy and the loss of revenue for the community.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article covers the impact of natural disasters (wildfires) on communities, the public health response, economic losses, and the need for disaster resiliency planning.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article links the drought and wildfires to climate-related phenomena, such as “higher than normal temperatures” and the observation that extreme dry conditions have “become much closer to the normal,” pointing towards the need for climate adaptation and resilience.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The degradation of terrestrial ecosystems is a central theme, with extensive discussion of wildfires burning thousands of acres, destroying national park land, and impacting vegetation and soil.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Several specific SDG targets can be linked to the information presented in the article:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. This is relevant because the article states that “Smoke from these fires has worsened the air quality throughout the region” and that “prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can impact immune system functions, as well as cognitive development.”
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. This is demonstrated by the actions of Montrose County Public Health, which works on “emergency preparedness,” warns residents about poor air quality, and is “distributing free KN95 masks to residents impacted.”

2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency… and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The article’s focus on the “moderate to extreme drought conditions” in the Upper Colorado River Basin and the unreliability of rain to “alleviate our drought” directly relates to the challenge of managing water scarcity.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products. The article highlights the vulnerability of the local economy to environmental disasters, noting that the closure of the national park represents a loss of “about $35 million of revenue a year for the city and the county,” impacting local businesses dependent on tourism.

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce… the number of people affected and… direct economic losses… caused by disasters. The article details the impact of the wildfires, a natural disaster, by quantifying the acres burned, the number of simultaneous fires, and the specific economic loss of “$35 million of revenue a year.”
   • Target 11.b: By 2030, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… adaptation to climate change, disaster risk resilience. This is directly mentioned where the “Western Water Assessment does work directly with communities in the west around wildfire and drought resiliency planning.”

5. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The entire article serves as a case study of climate-related hazards (drought, wildfires). The statement that these extreme conditions have “become much closer to the normal” underscores the need for adaptation, which is being addressed through “wildfire and drought resiliency planning.”

6. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests… and drylands. The article describes the massive destruction of these ecosystems, stating that “Most of the south rim of the park is burned… somewhere in the vicinity of 85%.”
   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… including land affected by… drought. The article’s discussion of “moderate to extreme drought,” “further drying of the soils,” and “historically dry” vegetation that is at the “97th percentile” for dryness directly relates to land degradation and conditions that precede desertification.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure the status and progress related to the identified targets:

• Air Quality Index (AQI): The article explicitly states the AQI for the Western Slope was “over 50,” providing a direct measure for air pollution (Target 3.9).
• Drought Level Classification: The reference to the “U.S. Drought Monitor” and its classification of “moderate to extreme drought conditions” serves as an indicator for water scarcity and drought severity (Target 6.4, 15.3).
• Economic Loss from Disasters: The specific figure of “$35 million of revenue a year” lost due to the national park’s closure is a direct indicator of the economic impact of disasters (Target 8.9, 11.5).
• Area of Land/Forest Burned: The article provides precise figures for the area destroyed by wildfires, such as “more than 15,700 acres” for the Turner Gulch Fire and “85%… of the south rim is burned” for the national park. This is a key indicator for habitat and ecosystem degradation (Target 15.1).
• Fuel Dryness Percentile: The statement that vegetation is “at or above the 97th percentile” for dryness is a scientific indicator of land degradation and wildfire risk (Target 15.3).
• Temperature Anomalies: The prediction of “higher than normal temperatures” is an indicator used to track climate-related hazards (Target 13.1).
• Public Health Response Measures: The distribution of “free KN95 masks” is an indicator of a community’s capacity to respond to health risks from disasters (Target 3.d).
• Existence of Resilience Plans: The mention of “wildfire and drought resiliency planning” with communities is a qualitative indicator of progress towards disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation (Target 11.b, 13.1).

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: 891khol.org