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

50多年来，人们一直在关注WAC班尼特大坝（位于不列颠哥伦比亚省）对上游河流的调节与世界著名的和平-阿萨巴斯卡三角洲（PAD;位于AB省）观测到的低水位之间的潜在联系。最近，这个问题在2014年Mikisew Cree第一民族的请愿书中获得了额外的牵引力，该请愿书要求拥有伍德布法罗国家公园，其中包括PAD，被指定为世界濒危遗产名录以及随后的2017年联合国教科文组织反应监测使命报告。为了解决这些问题，共同PI霍尔和沃尔夫在21世纪初领导了古湖沼学研究，旨在提供严重缺失的空间和时间视角，超越了和平河上几个地点的简短水文记录。结果表明，气候和其他因素，而不是河流整治，是在PAD水文变化的主要驱动力。尽管国际科学界通过同行评审的出版物承认和接受了这些重要的研究结果，但一些科学家、利益攸关方和决策者仍然无法接受这些结果。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，并解决剩余的知识差距，河流调节与气候变化对PAD湖泊的作用。我们将分析沉积物岩心来自：1）先前研究的湖泊增加了17年的记录（34%扩展）大坝后古水文重建，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）Rocky Point附近的湖泊，以获取河流调节过程线影响，4）PAD以外的湖泊，以参考当地气候，5）未开发的西北部和平地区的湖泊，以增加三角洲的空间覆盖率，6）斯莫基河和沃巴斯卡河洪泛区的湖泊，以评估这些“触发支流”的水文变化时间。所采用的方法将包括根据我们先前的研究证明有效的方法。研究结果将为我们的工业合作伙伴BC Hydro和负责确保PAD保持环境流量的国家工作组提供信息。*

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.********