Introduction This tutorial investigates flooding in the Peace-Athabasca River De
ID: 288347 • Letter: I
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Introduction This tutorial investigates flooding in the Peace-Athabasca River Delta in northeast Alberta, Canada. The Peace-Athabasca delta is the largest inland delta in North America. It has supported large populations of waterfowl, fish, and mammals for millenia, and because of its size, remoteness, and unique ecology is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Flooding, especially during snowmelt, plays an important role in maintaining the natural function of wetlands on the delta. In the past few decades, flooding behavior appears to have changed. One possible contributing factor is the construction of hydroelectric dams upstream of the Delta, with the firstd ago. As of 2018, another dam is under construction but is very contentious. As with many dam projects, debates focus on questions such as: Who benefits? Is the power really need displaced by the reservoir? What are the environmental impacts upstream and downstream? Are there viable alternatives to produce the electricity? am built approximately 50y ed? Who will be Sources of information: Footprints in the Delta, a documentary produced by the National Film Board of Canada in 1999. . reaming at any time here: This will be viewed in tutorial, and is available for st Your Atlas Other reputable media stories on the Delta, especially those published in 2017. Find one or more https://www.nfb.ca/film/footprints in _the_delta/ . This reading:htp:/le360,yale.edu/features/canadas_great _inland _delta _precarious future_ Part I (based on Footprints video): 1. Describe the natural processes responsible for maintaining the wetlands and perched lakes on t Peace-Athabasca Delta (abbreviated as P-A delta, from now on). In your description you should consider (at minimum) perched lakes, the role of fixed and moving ice dams, and how river discharge he varies throughout the year. (3pts)Explanation / Answer
2a. WAC bennet dam is one of the earth's highest earth fill dams built on Peace river in British, Columbia, Canada. The main purpose of the dam is to produce hydroelectricity.
b. Since the construction of the dam a number of environmental changes have taken place. Due to the construction of the dam there is less drastic fluctuations in the downstream portion of the Peace river which in turn results in modifying the plants and animals in that region. This part of the river has faced water loss. Also it results in changes in the landscape of Athabasca delta formed between Athabasca lake and Peace river. The delta experienced lower water levels which affect it landscape and the aquatic life in the surrounding region. Also the reduction in the amount of discharge results in accumulation of sediments and toxins downstream which decreases the quality of the water.
d. After the construction of the dam, the floodplain in the downstream of the dam dried up when the floods that used to occur every two or three years halted and it no longer revitalize the wetland biodiverity along the delta. Since the delta experienced lower water levels which affect both the landscape of the delta and its aquatic life. Also the reduction in the amount of discharge leads to accumulation of sediments and toxins downstream and hence decreases the quality of the water.
e. Aboriginal hunting and fishing grounds were severely affected by the impact. Due to reduction in the discharge of the river which reduces the quality of the water, many species of fish, muskrats and mountain caribou are no longer available for the consumption or traditional use by the native people.
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