Landslides, areas with fire damage, and clear-cut forest areas can impact water quality on both a short- and long-term basis. Soon after land-disturbing events, material and sediment can wash into surface water due to the exposure of erodible soils. Carbon can also leach into the ground water after a burn. In the long-term, water quality effects occur from the loss of erosion and runoff protection that is afforded by vegetation and from the development of hydrophobic soils. Hydrophobic soils repel water, causing rain to run off rather than infiltrate. Soils can reach this state after intense heating during a fire and can persist in this state for more than a year if left untreated. Firefighting retardant can contain chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorous and can have adverse impacts on water quality if sprayed directly over lakes and streams or if it enters stormwater runoff.