Paleolimnological studies to distinguish the roles of river regulation and climate change on persistent low water levels in the Peace-Athabasca Delta

古湖泊学研究，旨在区分河流调节和气候变化对皮斯-阿萨巴斯卡三角洲持续低水位的作用

• 批准号: 530364-2018
• 负责人: Hall, Roland
• 金额: $ 33.18万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=697961
• 关键词: Paleolimnological; studies; distinguish; roles; river

For over 50 years, concerns about the potential linkage between upstream river regulation by the WAC Bennett Dam (in BC) and observed low water levels in the world-renowned Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD; in AB) have been a perpetual narrative. Recently, this issue has gained additional traction with the 2014 petition by the Mikisew Cree First Nation to have Wood Buffalo National Park, which includes the PAD, designated on the List of World Heritage in Danger and the subsequent 2017 UNESCO Reactive Monitoring Mission Report. To address these concerns, co-PIs Hall and Wolfe led paleolimnological studies during the early 2000s designed to provide critically missing spatial and temporal perspectives beyond the brief hydrometric records at a few sites on the Peace River. Results identified that climate and other factors, not river regulation, are the prevailing drivers of hydrological change in the PAD. Despite recognition and acceptance of these important findings among the international scientific community via peer-reviewed publications, they remain untenable among some scientists, stakeholders and decision makers. Here, we propose six projects to advance and strengthen the paleolimnological knowledge of the PAD, and to address remaining knowledge gaps concerning the roles of river regulation versus climate change on lakes in the PAD. We will analyze sediment cores from: 1) previously studied lakes to add 17 years of record (34% extension) to the post-dam paleohydrological reconstructions, 2) lakes of local interest to increase relevance to local First Nation residents and Park Managers, 3) lakes near Rocky Point to capture river regulation hydrograph effects, 4) lakes outside the PAD for local climate reference, 5) lakes in the unexplored northwest Peace sector to increase spatial coverage across the delta and 6) lakes on the Smoky and Wabasca river floodplains to assess timing of hydrological changes in these 'trigger tributaries'. Methods employed will include those proven to be effective based on our prior studies. Results will provide knowledge to inform our industrial partner, BC Hydro, and national Working Groups tasked with ensuring environmental flows are maintained for the PAD.

50多年来，WAC Bennett大坝（在卑诗省）上游河上游监管之间的潜在联系与观察到世界知名的和平 - 阿巴巴斯加三角洲（PAD; AB）的水位低。最近，此问题在Mikisew Cree First Nation的2014年请愿书上获得了额外的吸引力，即包括Wood Buffalo National Park，其中包括PAD，在危险中的世界遗产名单和随后的2017年联合国教科文组织反应性监测任务报告中被指定。为了解决这些问题，Co-pis Hall和Wolfe在2000年代初期领导了古学研究，旨在在Peace River上几个地点短暂的水文记录之外提供严重缺少的空间和时间视角。结果表明，气候和其他因素而不是河流调节是垫中水文变化的主要驱动因素。尽管通过同行评审的出版物在国际科学界认识和接受这些重要发现，但在一些科学家，利益相关者和决策者中，它们仍然站不住脚。在这里，我们提出了六个项目，以促进和增强垫子的古学知识，并解决有关河流调节与气候变化对湖泊中湖泊的角色与气候变化的作用的剩余知识差距。 We will analyze sediment cores from: 1) previously studied lakes to add 17 years of record (34% extension) to the post-dam paleohydrological reconstructions, 2) lakes of local interest to increase relevance to local First Nation residents and Park Managers, 3) lakes near Rocky Point to capture river regulation hydrograph effects, 4) lakes outside the PAD for local climate reference, 5) lakes in the unexplored northwest Peace sector to increase spatial覆盖三角洲的覆盖范围和6）烟熏和瓦布斯卡河洪泛区的湖泊，以评估这些“触发支流”中水文变化的时机。所采用的方法将包括根据我们先前的研究而被证明是有效的。结果将提供知识，以告知我们的工业合作伙伴BC Hydro，以及负责确保维护环境流动的国家工作组。