Impacts of flow augmentation on river channel processes and riparian vegetation

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dc.contributor.authorBigelow, Sarah Grace
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorRood, Stewart B.
dc.date.accessioned2008-09-25T15:31:41Z
dc.date.available2008-09-25T15:31:41Z
dc.date.issued2006
dc.degree.levelMasters
dc.descriptionxiv, 139 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm.en
dc.description.abstractThe Little Bow River Project was implemented in 2003 and includes Alberta’s newest dam. The Project involves tripling the diversion of water from the Highwood River to the Little Bow River and subsequently storing the water in the Twin Valley Reservoir. This MSc Thesis provided part of the environmental monitoring for that Project and particularly investigated the impacts of augmented flows on the river channel and riparian vegetation along the upper reach of the Little Bow River. An initial component of the long-term study was to determine the existing associations between fluvial geomorphic characteristics and riparian plant communities. Poplar (Populus balsamifera L.), willow (Salix bebbiana Sargent and S. exigua Nutt.) and wolf-willow (Elaeagnus commutata Bernh.) communities were located along the upper section of the river, where the channel had a steeper gradient and was narrower and more sinuous. Cattail (Typha latifolia L.) and grass (grasses and sedges) communities were generally located along the lower section of the river that was shallower in gradient, wider and straighter. Plant community distribution also reflected impacts from cattle grazing. Initial channel and vegetation responses in the first two years following the increase in flow augmentation were slight and included bank slumping, sediment scour and inundation of flooded zones. The initial responses are consistent with the primary prediction of channel widening and this will probably be associated with some changes in the adjacent riparian plant communities.en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/649
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2006en
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)en
dc.subjectRiparian ecology -- Alberta -- Little Bow River Basinen
dc.subjectRiparian plants -- Alberta -- Little Bow River Basinen
dc.subjectStream plants -- Alberta -- Little Bow River Basinen
dc.subjectRiparian plants -- Effect of water levels on -- Alberta -- Little Bow River Basinen
dc.subjectStreamflow -- Alberta -- Little Bow Riveren
dc.subjectDissertations, Academicen
dc.titleImpacts of flow augmentation on river channel processes and riparian vegetationen
dc.typeThesisen
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