DDMMON#8-2 Duncan Reservoir Riparian VegetationMonitoring Program. Year 2 Annual Report 2012, Vast Resource Solutions and 2University ofLethbridge, Alberta. Unpublished report by Vast Resource Solutions
Author: Polzin M.L., S.B. Rood
This monitoring program was initiated in 2009, implemented in 2012 and 2015, and will next be carried out in 2018. This long-term monitoring program is being implemented to assess the effects of Alternative S73 through observation of riparian distribution and abundance and testing of hypotheses underlying the approach taken in the water use plan. The Year 4 (2018) report will be submitted with the 2020 annual report.This study is designed to sample and analyze the conditions of existing vegetation communities triennially for 10 years and to track any changes that may occur in vegetation distribution and abundance under the implementation of Alt S73. The second vegetation survey was deferred from Year 3 (2011) to Year 4 (2012) (Study Year 2) of the 10 year project.
1) Will the implementation of DDM water use plan result in neutral, positive, or negative changes to riparian vegetation communities within the drawdown zone for the Duncan Reservoir?
Summary of 2015 results showed a significant decrease in vegetation cover by area and an increase in bare ground area. Weather may be an important factor but there were no two sampling years with similar spring weather. Future sampling may indicate the level of spring weather effects on vegetation communities, and especially annual plant communities. Hypotheses testing results will define how much each factor tested contributes to the change in vegetation cover. It will also answer the management question which at this point we cannot say that the implementation of DDM water use plan is the cause of the
changes noted in vegetation.
Based on 2015 assessment, inundation tolerance was limited to first metre drop in elevation from full-pool. Extreme dry spring weather may have contributed to the reduced cover for the drawdown zone. Woody debris and 2012 reservoir levels above full-pool were possible factors in reduction of
vegetation cover including woody species from the 85th percentile exposed zone. Diversity has been significantly decreasing since 2009.
1) Will the implementation of DDM water use plan result in neutral, positive, or negative changes to riparian vegetation communities within the drawdown zone for the Duncan Reservoir?
Summary of 2015 results showed a significant decrease in vegetation cover by area and an increase in bare ground area. Weather may be an important factor but there were no two sampling years with similar spring weather. Future sampling may indicate the level of spring weather effects on vegetation communities, and especially annual plant communities. Hypotheses testing results will define how much each factor tested contributes to the change in vegetation cover. It will also answer the management question which at this point we cannot say that the implementation of DDM water use plan is the cause of the
changes noted in vegetation.
Based on 2015 assessment, inundation tolerance was limited to first metre drop in elevation from full-pool. Extreme dry spring weather may have contributed to the reduced cover for the drawdown zone. Woody debris and 2012 reservoir levels above full-pool were possible factors in reduction of
vegetation cover including woody species from the 85th percentile exposed zone. Diversity has been significantly decreasing since 2009.
Resources Data:
Name: DDMMON-8-2-YR3-2016-03-01
Format: PDF
URL: https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/BCHydro/customer-portal/documents/corporate/environment-sustainability/water-use-planning/southern-interior/ddmmon-8-2-yr3-2016-03-01.pdf
Additional Info
Study Years: 2015, 2012, 2009
Published: 2013
DDMMON#8-2 Duncan Reservoir Riparian VegetationMonitoring Program. Year 2 Annual Report 2012, Vast Resource Solutions and 2University ofLethbridge, Alberta. Unpublished report by Vast Resource Solutions
Author: Polzin M.L., S.B. Rood
Tags: Beaked Sedge, Carex Utriculata, Common Horsetail, DDMMON82, Drawdown Zone, Duncan Reservoir, Equisetum Arvense, Inundation Tolerance, Restoration Recommendations, Riparian Vegetation, WLR
This monitoring program was initiated in 2009, implemented in 2012 and 2015, and will next be carried out in 2018.
This long-term monitoring program is being implemented to assess the effects of Alternative S73 through observation of riparian distribution and abundance and testing of hypotheses underlying the approach taken in the water use plan.
The Year 4 (2018) report will be submitted with the 2020 annual report.This study is designed to sample and analyze the conditions of existing vegetation
communities triennially for 10 years and to track any changes that may occur in vegetation distribution and abundance under the implementation of Alt S73. The second vegetation survey was deferred from Year 3 (2011) to Year 4 (2012) (Study Year 2) of the 10 year project.
Summary
1) Will the implementation of DDM water use plan result in neutral, positive, or negative changes to riparian vegetation communities within the drawdown zone for the Duncan Reservoir?
Summary of 2015 results showed a significant decrease in vegetation cover by area and an increase in bare ground area. Weather may be an important factor but there were no two sampling years with similar spring weather. Future sampling may indicate the level of spring weather effects on vegetation communities, and especially annual plant communities. Hypotheses testing results will define how much each factor tested contributes to the change in vegetation cover. It will also answer the management question which at this point we cannot say that the implementation of DDM water use plan is the cause of the
changes noted in vegetation.
Based on 2015 assessment, inundation tolerance was limited to first metre drop in elevation from full-pool. Extreme dry spring weather may have contributed to the reduced cover for the drawdown zone. Woody debris and 2012 reservoir levels above full-pool were possible factors in reduction of
vegetation cover including woody species from the 85th percentile exposed zone. Diversity has been significantly decreasing since 2009.