Response of riparian cottonwoods to experimental flows along the lower Bridge River, British Columbia
Date
2007
Authors
Hall, Alexis Anne
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2007
Abstract
The Bridge River drains the east slope of the Coast Mountain Range and is a major tributary of the Fraser River in southwestern British Columbia. The lower Bridge River has been regulated since the installation of Terzaghi Dam in 1948, which left a section of dry riverbed for an interval of 52 years prior to 2000. An out-of-court settlement between BC Hydro and Federal and Provincial Fisheries regulatory agencies resulted in the required experimental discharge of 3 m3/s below Terzaghi Dam in 2000. This study investigated growth of black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) trees in response to the experimental discharges. Mature trees did not show a significant response in radial trunk growth or branch elongation. In contrast, the juvenile trees displayed an increased growth response, and the successful establishment of saplings provided a dramatic response to the new flow regime. Thus, I conclude that cottonwoods have benefited from the experimental flow regime of the lower Bridge River.
Description
xii, 89 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm
Keywords
Cottonwood -- British Columbia -- Bridge River Basin , Riparian ecology -- British Columbia -- Bridge River Basin , Ecohydrology -- British Columbia -- Bridge River Basin , Hydrology, Forest -- British Columbia -- Bridge River Basin , Dissertations, Academic , Dams -- British Columbia -- Bridge River