Geological Society, London, Special Publications Fluvial response to Holocene glacier fluctuations in the Nostetuko River valley, southern Coast Mountains, British Columbia Kenna Wilkie and John J. Clague Geological Society, London, Special Publications 2009; v. 320; p. 199-218 doi:10.1144/SP320.13 Email alerting click here to receive free email alerts when new articles cite this service article Permission click here to seek permission to re-use all or part of this article request Subscribe click here to subscribe to Geological Society, London, Special Publications or the Lyell Collection Notes Downloaded by University of Alberta on 28 August 2009 © 2009 Geological Society of London Fluvial response to Holocene glacier fluctuations in the Nostetuko River valley, southern Coast Mountains, British Columbia KENNA WILKIE & JOHN J. CLAGUE* Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6 *Corresponding author (e-mail:
[email protected]) Abstract: Mountain rivers, like alpine glaciers, are sensitive indicators of climate change. Some rivers may provide a more complete record of Holocene climate change than the glaciers in their headwaters. We illustrate these points by examining the record preserved in the upper part of the alluvial fill in the Nostetuko River valley in the southern Coast Mountains, British Columbia (Canada). Glacier advances in the upper part of the watershed triggered valley-wide aggradation and complex changes in river planform. Periods when glaciers were restricted in extent coincide with periods of incision of the valley fill and floodplain stability. As many as 10 overbank aggradation units are separated by peat layers containing tree roots and stems in growth position.