CLBMON-8 Kinbasket Reservoir Monitoring of the Valemount Peatland
Author: D.G. Ham
CLBMON08 seeks to investigate the relation between reservoir operations and erosion of the Valemount wetland. Vegetation, Wildlife (small mammal), and Invertebrate (pitfall) data were collected to characterize the fauna and flora of the Peatlands.
There are a wide variety of erosional processes that are currently impacting the Valemount Peatland. Small scour features, recreational (ATV) users, wildlife, wind erosion, and distributary flow channels and creeks all disrupt the surface and likely prevent the establishment and growth of vegetation. However, these processes are fairly restricted in space, and are most commonly observed at the north end of the peatland only. Conversely, the additional processes of lateral erosion of the peatland by Canoe River and denudation of the entire peatland surface by surface runoff and wave attack are fairly ubiquitous, and appear to dominate the erosional processes that have been observed. Some wetland species are also killed by dessication when the reservoir is low and the surface dries out, or can not survive extensive periods of inundation. Destruction of vegetation through either process weakens surface cohesion, and may result in accelerated rates of surface erosion.
Lateral erosion rates by Canoe River have actually declined 20% since inundation, the result of a reduction in the frequency and duration of high flows due to the attenuating effects of the reservoir at higher pool levels. Between 1968 and 2002, Canoe River eroded 3500 m 2 of the original peatland surface each year on average. Although it would take more than 2000 years to erode the entire remaining peatland at this rate of removal, lateral erosion rates are comparatively large near the upstream section of the peatland where vegetation persists today. By comparison, vertical denudation of the peatland surface appears to be the main factor limiting vegetation growth.
There are a wide variety of erosional processes that are currently impacting the Valemount Peatland. Small scour features, recreational (ATV) users, wildlife, wind erosion, and distributary flow channels and creeks all disrupt the surface and likely prevent the establishment and growth of vegetation. However, these processes are fairly restricted in space, and are most commonly observed at the north end of the peatland only. Conversely, the additional processes of lateral erosion of the peatland by Canoe River and denudation of the entire peatland surface by surface runoff and wave attack are fairly ubiquitous, and appear to dominate the erosional processes that have been observed. Some wetland species are also killed by dessication when the reservoir is low and the surface dries out, or can not survive extensive periods of inundation. Destruction of vegetation through either process weakens surface cohesion, and may result in accelerated rates of surface erosion.
Lateral erosion rates by Canoe River have actually declined 20% since inundation, the result of a reduction in the frequency and duration of high flows due to the attenuating effects of the reservoir at higher pool levels. Between 1968 and 2002, Canoe River eroded 3500 m 2 of the original peatland surface each year on average. Although it would take more than 2000 years to erode the entire remaining peatland at this rate of removal, lateral erosion rates are comparatively large near the upstream section of the peatland where vegetation persists today. By comparison, vertical denudation of the peatland surface appears to be the main factor limiting vegetation growth.
Resources Data:
Name: CLBMON-8_YR2_JAN_2010
Format: PDF
URL: https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/hydro/medialib/internet/documents/planning_regulatory/wup/southern_interior/clbmon-8_yr2_jan_2010.pdf
Additional Info
Study Years: 2009
Published: 2010
CLBMON-8 Kinbasket Reservoir Monitoring of the Valemount Peatland
Author: D.G. Ham
Tags: Canoe Reach, Erosion, Invertebrate, Kinbasket Reservoir, Reservoir Operations, Valemount Peatland, Vegetation, Water Level, Wave Action, Wetland
CLBMON08 seeks to investigate the relation between reservoir operations and erosion of the Valemount wetland.
Vegetation, Wildlife (small mammal), and Invertebrate (pitfall) data were collected to characterize the fauna and flora of the Peatlands.
Summary
There are a wide variety of erosional processes that are currently impacting the Valemount Peatland. Small scour features, recreational (ATV) users, wildlife, wind erosion, and distributary flow channels and creeks all disrupt the surface and likely prevent the establishment and growth of vegetation. However, these processes are fairly restricted in space, and are most commonly observed at the north end of the peatland only. Conversely, the additional processes of lateral erosion of the peatland by Canoe River and denudation of the entire peatland surface by surface runoff and wave attack are fairly ubiquitous, and appear to dominate the erosional processes that have been observed. Some wetland species are also killed by dessication when the reservoir is low and the surface dries out, or can not survive extensive periods of inundation. Destruction of vegetation through either process weakens surface cohesion, and may result in accelerated rates of surface erosion.
Lateral erosion rates by Canoe River have actually declined 20% since inundation, the result of a reduction in the frequency and duration of high flows due to the attenuating effects of the reservoir at higher pool levels. Between 1968 and 2002, Canoe River eroded 3500 m 2 of the original peatland surface each year on average. Although it would take more than 2000 years to erode the entire remaining peatland at this rate of removal, lateral erosion rates are comparatively large near the upstream section of the peatland where vegetation persists today. By comparison, vertical denudation of the peatland surface appears to be the main factor limiting vegetation growth.
