CLBMON-61 Kinbasket Reservoir Wetlands Monitoring Program, Year 6 Annual Report

Author: D. Adama

This report summarizes the results of a six-year BACI study designed to assess the potential impacts resulting from the operation of two additional turbines (#5 and #6) installed in Mica dam on wetlands in Kinbasket Reservoir. Seven wetland attributes were monitored including shrub cover, herb cover, species richness, species diversity, and community composition were assessed in terrestrial wetlands. Aquatic metabolism and macrophyte biomass were assessed in aquatic wetlands. BACI analyses were performed using linear mixed effects modelling and correlation coefficients were assessed to examine the potential relationships between variables.

Wetland species composition and productivity generally responded positively to changes in operating regimes across the before (2012 to 2014) and after (2015 to 2017). BACI effects were observed in five of the seven wetland attributes including shrub cover, species richness, species diversity, community composition, and macrophyte biomass. BACI effects were not observed in measurements of herb cover or aquatic metabolism. Differences across periods were attributed to flooding of wetlands during the before period and a lack of flooding during the after period.

Wetland species composition and productivity generally responded positively to changes in operating regimes across the before (2012 to 2014) and after (2015 to 2017). BACI effects were observed in five of the seven wetland attributes including shrub cover, species richness, species diversity, community composition, and macrophyte biomass. BACI effects were not observed in measurements of herb cover or aquatic metabolism. Differences across periods were attributed to flooding of wetlands during the before period and a lack of flooding during the after period.