Laboratory Experiments with Cryptosporidium parvum Oocysts and Wildfire Ash from the Tubbs, Kincaid, and Walbridge Fires (2017-2020) in the Russian River Watershed, Sonoma County, CA: Physical, Chemical, and Biological Data

This data release contains results from wildfire ash samples collected in burn areas within the Russian River watershed in Sonoma County, California, as well as results produced in laboratory experiments using the ash to assess the mobility of the waterborne pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) and other contaminants. Ash was collected in 2017, 2019, and 2020 following the Tubbs, Kincaid, and Walbridge fires, respectively. The ash samples were characterized for physical properties including color and particle size, as well as chemical properties including carbon and nitrogen. Three wildfire biomarker chemicals, galactosan, mannosan, and levoglucosan, were also measured. After characterization, wildfire ash samples were used in a series of laboratory experiments. Leachate experiments were conducted to evaluate mobilized contaminants in the ash and were analyzed for basic water quality parameters, nutrients, metals, and wildfire biomarker content. Sorption studies were performed to assess interactions between leached contaminants and hyporheic sediments from the Russian River. Static column experiments were used to evaluate C. parvum attachment behavior under variable ash-derived water quality conditions. Zeta potential measurements were collected to assess changes in surface charge.