LP08 Assignment: California’s Wildfires

The 2018 wildfire season in California was one of the deadliest in the state’s history, burning 1.8 million acres of forest, killing more than 100 people, and destroying more than 10,000 homes and other structures.

Starting from the NAU Online Library Science & Math subject guide, research this annually occurring natural disaster and write a paper that answers the following questions:

Questions
What is the history behind the wildfires in California?
What causes the fires? (There are at least two opposing arguments related to the cause of the fires. Which one do you most agree with, and why?)
Some people believe there is a connection between the wildfires and the devastating mudslides in the Pacific West. Do you agree with this assessment? Why and why not? Explain.
What is the impact of the wildfires on the environment and on the economy of the state?
What kinds of restrictions and regulations could be put in place to prevent the fires from occurring in the future? What mitigation strategies and practices would you suggest?
What is the connection between these natural disasters and the environmental policies and regulations at the state and federal level?

Rating Scale
10-9 Work meets or exceeds criterion at a high level of competence.
8 Work reflects an understanding of criterion with minor misunderstandings/misconceptions.
7 Criterion partially met, but one or more important concepts/skills are missing or flawed.
6 Work reflects an attempt to meet criterion, but significant misunderstandings/misconceptions are apparent.
5-0 Criterion not met or work is absent.
Criteria
1. The paper discusses the history of the wildfires in California.
2. The paper describes at least two main causes of the fires.
3. The paper explains the connection between wildfires and mudslides.
4. The paper describes the impact of the wildfires on the environment and the economy of the state.
5. The paper describes types of restrictions and regulations that could be put in place to prevent wildfires.
6. The paper discusses the connection between the California forest fires and state and federal environmental policies and regulations.