(Brian Maffly | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Brian Head fire has left steep slopes vulnerable to severe erosion, including along the Spruce Trail near Bowery Creek, seen here on Sept. 8, 2017. Thousands of acres are being covered with straw dropped from helicopters in an emergency effort to stabilize the soils. The fire also appears to have tainted water supplies for the town of Panguitch.
Brian Maffly has worked for The Tribune off and on since 1994. Maffly roams Utah, covering public land and environment.