Needle cast from burnt conifer trees can help reduce soil erosion after forest fires. In this study, researchers tested ponderosa pine and Douglas fir needles on different soils. They found that Douglas fir needles were better at reducing erosion than ponderosa pine needles. The needles formed mini-dams that slowed down water flow, reducing erosion. Using stream power to model erosion was more accurate than shear stress. Overall, a 50% cover of Douglas fir needles reduced erosion by 80%, while a 50% cover of ponderosa pine needles reduced erosion by 60%. These findings challenge current erosion models and suggest stream power is a better predictor of sediment load.