A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
The Response of Riparian Vegetation to Flow Regulation Along Peace River, Alberta
Abstract: In the Alberta reach of Peace River, vegetation has been mapped from air photography at six epochs since the early 1950s. The river traverses the dry Aspen–Poplar biogeoclimatic zone and northern boreal forest. Communities were identified by air photo texture and vegetation morphology; apart from reconnaissance studies, no ground investigations were undertaken. Temporal changes record the widespread establishment, after regulation, of pioneer herb and shrub communities on exposed river bars. Over time, some have progressed to early forest stands dominated mainly by cottonwood (Populus balsamifera). However, at many sites, development has remained at the pioneer shrub stage, the result of winter high water and ice effects. In the reach downstream of the Town of Peace River, ice activity has severely limited vegetation succession. On stable terrestrial sites, normal succession is observed. However, the spatial pattern of communities is palimpsestic, recording the effect of river lateral erosion and movement which brings pioneer communities into juxtaposition with well‐established, late succession forest sites. The main effects of river lateral erosion probably originated in the pre‐regulation period; however, 40 years of regulated flows are not sufficient for succession to overcome this legacy effect. Observations are broadly congruent with those in the proximal British Columbia reach.
The Response of Riparian Vegetation to Flow Regulation Along Peace River, Alberta
Abstract: In the Alberta reach of Peace River, vegetation has been mapped from air photography at six epochs since the early 1950s. The river traverses the dry Aspen–Poplar biogeoclimatic zone and northern boreal forest. Communities were identified by air photo texture and vegetation morphology; apart from reconnaissance studies, no ground investigations were undertaken. Temporal changes record the widespread establishment, after regulation, of pioneer herb and shrub communities on exposed river bars. Over time, some have progressed to early forest stands dominated mainly by cottonwood (Populus balsamifera). However, at many sites, development has remained at the pioneer shrub stage, the result of winter high water and ice effects. In the reach downstream of the Town of Peace River, ice activity has severely limited vegetation succession. On stable terrestrial sites, normal succession is observed. However, the spatial pattern of communities is palimpsestic, recording the effect of river lateral erosion and movement which brings pioneer communities into juxtaposition with well‐established, late succession forest sites. The main effects of river lateral erosion probably originated in the pre‐regulation period; however, 40 years of regulated flows are not sufficient for succession to overcome this legacy effect. Observations are broadly congruent with those in the proximal British Columbia reach.
The Response of Riparian Vegetation to Flow Regulation Along Peace River, Alberta
Church, Michael (editor) / Church, Michael (author) / Uunila, Lars (author) / North, Margaret E. A. (author)
The Regulation of Peace River ; 209-231
2014-12-03
23 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
Landslides Along the Peace River, Alberta
| British Library Conference Proceedings | 1990