Response of riparian cottonwoods to experimental flows along the lower Bridge River, British Columbia
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Date
2007
Authors
Hall, Alexis Anne
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2007
Abstract
The Bridge River drains the east slope of the Coast Mountain Range and is a major tributary of the Fraser River in southwestern British Columbia. The lower Bridge River has been regulated since the installation of Terzaghi Dam in 1948, which left a section of dry riverbed for an interval of 52 years prior to 2000. An out-of-court settlement between BC Hydro and Federal and Provincial Fisheries regulatory agencies resulted in the required experimental discharge of 3 m3/s below Terzaghi Dam in 2000. This study investigated growth of black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) trees in response to the experimental discharges. Mature trees did not show a significant response in radial trunk growth or branch elongation. In contrast, the juvenile trees displayed an increased growth response, and the successful establishment of saplings provided a dramatic response to the new flow regime. Thus, I conclude that cottonwoods have benefited from the experimental flow regime of the lower Bridge River.
Description
xii, 89 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm
Keywords
Cottonwood -- British Columbia -- Bridge River Basin , Riparian ecology -- British Columbia -- Bridge River Basin , Ecohydrology -- British Columbia -- Bridge River Basin , Hydrology, Forest -- British Columbia -- Bridge River Basin , Dissertations, Academic , Dams -- British Columbia -- Bridge River