Paleolimnological studies to distinguish the roles of river regulation and climate change on persistent low water levels in the Peace-Athabasca Delta

古湖泊学研究，旨在区分河流调节和气候变化对皮斯-阿萨巴斯卡三角洲持续低水位的作用

• 批准号: 530364-2018
• 负责人: Hall, Roland
• 金额: $ 22.25万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=694807
• 关键词: Paleolimnological; studies; distinguish; roles; river

For over 50 years, concerns about the potential linkage between upstream river regulation by the WAC Bennett Dam (in BC) and observed low water levels in the world-renowned Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD; in AB) have been a perpetual narrative. Recently, this issue has gained additional traction with the 2014 petition by the Mikisew Cree First Nation to have Wood Buffalo National Park, which includes the PAD, designated on the List of World Heritage in Danger and the subsequent 2017 UNESCO Reactive Monitoring Mission Report. To address these concerns, co-PIs Hall and Wolfe led paleolimnological studies during the early 2000s designed to provide critically missing spatial and temporal perspectives beyond the brief hydrometric records at a few sites on the Peace River. Results identified that climate and other factors, not river regulation, are the prevailing drivers of hydrological change in the PAD. Despite recognition and acceptance of these important findings among the international scientific community via peer-reviewed publications, they remain untenable among some scientists, stakeholders and decision makers. Here, we propose six projects to advance and strengthen the paleolimnological knowledge of the PAD, and to address remaining knowledge gaps concerning the roles of river regulation versus climate change on lakes in the PAD. We will analyze sediment cores from: 1) previously studied lakes to add 17 years of record (34% extension) to the post-dam paleohydrological reconstructions, 2) lakes of local interest to increase relevance to local First Nation residents and Park Managers, 3) lakes near Rocky Point to capture river regulation hydrograph effects, 4) lakes outside the PAD for local climate reference, 5) lakes in the unexplored northwest Peace sector to increase spatial coverage across the delta and 6) lakes on the Smoky and Wabasca river floodplains to assess timing of hydrological changes in these 'trigger tributaries'. Methods employed will include those proven to be effective based on our prior studies. Results will provide knowledge to inform our industrial partner, BC Hydro, and national Working Groups tasked with ensuring environmental flows are maintained for the PAD.

50 多年来，人们一直担心 WAC Bennett 大坝（不列颠哥伦比亚省）的上游河流调节与世界著名的和平阿萨巴斯卡三角洲（PAD；AB 省）的低水位之间存在潜在联系。最近，随着米基休克里原住民 2014 年请愿书将包括 PAD 在内的伍德布法罗国家公园列入濒危世界遗产名录，以及随后发布的 2017 年联合国教科文组织反应性监测任务报告，这一问题得到了更多关注。为了解决这些问题，联合首席研究员霍尔和沃尔夫在 2000 年代初期领导了古湖泊学研究，旨在提供除了和平河上几个地点的简短水文测量记录之外严重缺失的空间和时间视角。结果表明，气候和其他因素，而不是河流调节，是PAD水文变化的主要驱动因素。尽管国际科学界通过同行评审出版物认识并接受了这些重要发现，但在一些科学家、利益相关者和决策者中，这些发现仍然站不住脚。在这里，我们提出了六个项目，以推进和加强 PAD 的古湖泊学知识，并解决有关河流调节与气候变化对 PAD 湖泊的作用方面的剩余知识差距。我们将分析以下沉积物岩心：1) 先前研究的湖泊，为大坝后的古水文重建添加 17 年的记录（34% 扩展）；2) 当地感兴趣的湖泊，以增加与当地原住民居民和公园管理者的相关性；3) 洛基角附近的湖泊，以捕获河流调节水文影响；4) PAD 以外的湖泊，以供当地气候参考；5) 未开发的西北和平区的湖泊，以增加空间 覆盖整个三角洲和 6) 大烟河和沃巴斯卡河漫滩上的湖泊，以评估这些“触发支流”水文变化的时间。所采用的方法将包括根据我们之前的研究证明有效的方法。结果将为我们的工业合作伙伴 BC Hydro 和负责确保 PAD 维持环境流量的国家工作组提供知识。