Author(s): F. M. Conly; T. D. Prowse
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: The Peace River, the major tributary to the Slave River in northern Canada, has been regulated since 1968 by the WAC. Bennett Dam, over 1200 Ian upstream from the Peace-Slave River confluence. This paper illustrates how flow regulation has influenced the timing and duration of solid ice cover formation on these rivers. Increased water temperature, as a result of hypolimnetic water releases from the reservoir, totally precludes the formation of an ice cover immediately downstream of the dam. Data from sites along the Peace River indicate that the ice regime upstream of the town of Peace River has been altered significantly, with only intennittent ice covers forming. At the town of Peace River ice cover formation has been delayed by more than one month. The timing and duration of the main ice season on the lower reaches of the Peace River and on the Slave River have not changed significantly since regulation.
Year: 1998