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River Regulation and Riparian Woodlands Along the Lower Red Deer River, Alberta

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River Regulation and Riparian Woodlands Along the Lower Red Deer River, Alberta RIVER REGULATION AND RIPARIAN WOODLANDS ALONG THE LOWER RED DEER RIVER, ALBERTA LAURENS J. PHILIPSEN Bachelor of Science, University of Lethbridge, 2011 A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of the University of Lethbridge in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF SCIENCE Environmental Science Program University of Lethbridge LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA, CANADA © Laurens J. Philipsen, 2017 RIVER REGULATION AND RIPARIAN WOODLANDS ALONG THE LOWER RED DEER RIVER, ALBERTA LAURENS J. PHILIPSEN Date of Defence: April 4, 2017 Dr. Stewart B. Rood Professor Ph.D. Supervisor Dr. Cameron P. Goater Professor Ph.D. Thesis Examination Committee Member Dr. Stefan W. Kienzle Professor Ph.D. Thesis Examination Committee Member Dr. Lawrence B. Flanagan Professor Ph.D. Chair, Thesis Examination Committee ABSTRACT This thesis investigates the historical trends and prospective future streamflow of the Red Deer River and the impacts of streamflow management on the reproduction and health of riparian cottonwood communities along the lower river. No common trends were detected in the historical streamflow data for the Red Deer River and its upper tributaries. Annual streamflow volumes and the onset of peak discharge have not changed from 1912 to 2012. Hydroclimatic modelling forecasted slight increases in annual streamflow volumes. Aerial photograph analysis, dendrochronology, and field transects of cottonwood communities along the lower river through Dinosaur Provincial park revealed no changes in tree growth and continued cottonwood recruitment despite the construction of the Dickson Dam in 1983. However, some improvements to the pattern of streamflow regulation, particularly flow ramping, are recommended to ensure the continued health of riparian cottonwood communities along the Red Deer River. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are a number of people that I owe my gratitude to, as without their support, this thesis would not have been possible. I would first like to thank my supervisor Dr. Stewart Rood for providing me with this research opportunity. Your expertise, guidance, continuous support, and numerous side projects, have made this journey an incredibly rewarding experience. I could not have asked for a better supervisor and mentor. Thanks to the Rood Lab, affectionately known as the “Cottonwood Crew”, for all the advice, editing, thought-provoking discussion, and laughter during this process — Karen Zanewich, Soba Kaluthota, Evan Hillman, Stephen Foster, Kayleigh Nielson, and Sam Woodman, I owe you my deepest gratitude. I would especially like to thank Dr. David Pearce for answering my relentless stream of questions with patience and goodwill. Additionally, I would like to extend my gratitude to Dr. Stefan Kienzle and Dr. Cam Goater for graciously agreeing to be part of my thesis committee. I must also thank my fellow graduate students and friends, Colin Langhorn, Ariel Belsheim, Gordon Logie, and Charmaine Bonifacio, I’m grateful that we could tackle the trials and tribulations of graduate school together. Your company has made this experience a little more bearable. Lastly, I would like to thank my family for their endless love, support, and patience during this process. I can finally tell you that yes, I am finished. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 TITLE PAGE.........................................................................................................i 2 THESIS EXAMINATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS PAGE.......................ii 3 ABSTRACT..........................................................................................................iii 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................... iidsdssiv 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS .....................................................................................v 6 LIST OF TABLES...........................................................................................xviii 7 LIST OF FIGURES........................................................................................ iiiiix LIST OF SYMBOLS & ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................xii 1. Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................. OVERVIEW OF COTTONWOODS AND RIVER REGULATION 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................1 1.2 Introduction to cottonwoods..........................................................................2 1.3 Cottonwood collapse and water management...............................................5 1.4 Functional flows............................................................................................7 1.5 The Red Deer River.....................................................................................12 1.6 Significance of research ..............................................................................18 1.7 Thesis framework........................................................................................19 1.8 References ...................................................................................................21 2. Chapter 2 ................................................................................................................. HISTORIC AND PROSPECTIVE FUTURE FLOWS OF THE RED DEER RIVER AND ITS HEADWATER TRIBUTARIES 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................26 2.1.2 Hydroclimatic modelling..............................................................31 2.1.3 Historical streamflow projection..................................................31 2.2 Methods.......................................................................................................32 2.2.1 Historical trend analysis ...............................................................32 2.2.1.1 Data preparation ...................................................................33 2.2.1.2 Statistical analysis and trend projection...............................37 2.2.2 Hydroclimatic modelling..............................................................38 v 2.2.2.1 Model development..............................................................38 2.2.2.2 Future forecasting from down-scaled GCMs.......................41 2.2.3 Comparison of empirical trend and GCM predictions .................42 2.3 Results .........................................................................................................43 2.3.1 Naturalized data validation...........................................................43 2.3.2 Historical annual and monthly flow trends ..................................46 2.3.3 Hydroclimatic model verification ................................................51 2.3.4 Future flows as predicted with empirical trend projection and GCM modelling......................................................................................55 2.4 Discussion ...................................................................................................58 2.5 References ...................................................................................................66 3. Chapter 3 ................................................................................................................. COTTONWOOD RECRUITMENT AND STREAMFLOW MANAGEMENT ALONG THE LOWER RED DEER RIVER 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................72 3.1.1 Study location...............................................................................75 3.2 Methods.......................................................................................................79 3.2.1 Aerial photograph analysis...........................................................79 3.2.2 Dendrochronology........................................................................85 3.2.3 Field survey ..................................................................................88 3.2.4 Hydrology.....................................................................................90 3.3 Results .........................................................................................................91 3.3.1 Aerial photograph analysis...........................................................91 3.3.2 Dendrochronology........................................................................96 3.3.3 Field survey ................................................................................101 3.3.4 Hydrology...................................................................................105 3.4 Discussion .................................................................................................111 3.5 References .................................................................................................123 4. Chapter 4 ................................................................................................................. COTTONWOOD GROWTH, CLIMATE, AND STREAMFLOW MANAGEMENT ALONG THE LOWER RED DEER RIVER 4.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................129 4.1.1 Study site ....................................................................................132 4.2 Methods.....................................................................................................134 4.2.1 Cottonwood core collection and processing ..............................134 vi 4.2.2 Hydrology and climate ...............................................................137
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