Mc. English et al., GEOMORPHOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL CHANGE ON THE OUTER SLAVE RIVER DELTA,NWT, BEFORE AND AFTER IMPOUNDMENT OF THE PEACE RIVER, Hydrological processes, 11(13), 1997, pp. 1707-1724
This paper examines geomorphological and botanical changes on the oute
r low elevation portion of the Slave River Delta prior to and after im
poundment of the Peace River at Hudson's Hope, British Columbia. The S
lave River Delta deposits are approximately 8300 km(2), about 5% (400
km(2)) is defined as the active delta which progrades into Great Slave
Lake through an active system of distributaries. This active portion
of the delta is the area studied. The Peace River provides approximate
ly 65% of the annual flow of the Slave River. Alteration of the natura
l flow regime and suspended sediment load of the Slave River has resul
ted from the upstream impoundment. Calculations indicate that the annu
al suspended sediment load in the Slave River has decreased by 33%. Us
ing aerial photographs of the Slave Delta taken in 1946 and 1966, prio
r to damming the Peace River, geomorphological change and the spatial
changes in plant assemblages have been recorded using GIS software. Ae
rial photographs taken in 1977 and 1994 were used in similar fashion t
o document geomorphological and botanical change and rates of change a
fter impoundment, The Outer Delta is most susceptible to hydrological
and suspended sediment changes in the river system. As such it is show
n that geomorphological development in these Outer Delta landforms has
been notably reduced since impoundment and changes in plant assemblag
e distribution indicates a drier, less productive environment, Results
of aerial photo analysis show that the rate of development of distinc
tive cleavage bar islands on the Outer Delta has been notably reduced
since impoundment. Changes in plant assemblage areas on these islands
indicates both an autogenic and allogenic change to a drier, less prod
uctive environment and actual loss, by erosion, of some of the most pr
oductive Equisetum assemblages. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.