New Mexico has suffered from devastating wildfires this year, fueled by drought and a dry climate. The wildfires and drought have combined to create a long-term impact on the state’s ecosystems.

When rain comes, water runoff and ashes combine to change the pH levels of the surface water where it collects, making water more acidic. This in turn will have an impact on native fish and could affect drinking water, leading to higher costs in treating water, biologists say.

New Mexico is facing its worst wildfire year in recent history. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that more than 790,000 acres throughout New Mexico have burned so far this year, and there is another month of wildfire season to go.

Current information about the State’s wildfires can be found at NMFireInfo.com.

It will take several years for the ecosystem to return to normal.