DOCSLIB.ORG

Climate Change Scenario Modelling for the Fraser River Watershed - Phase 1 - Final Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Climate Change Scenario Modelling for the Fraser River Watershed - Phase 1 - Final Report Climate Change Scenario Modelling for the Fraser River Watershed - Phase 1 - Final Report 22 March 2018 Prepared for: Prepared By: Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Markus A. Schnorbus Development Lead, Hydrologic Impacts Water Management Branch Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium i ii Table of Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ iv 1 Background ........................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Project Aim and Scope .......................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Phase 1 Scope and Deliverables .................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Report Outline............................................................................................................................... 3 3 Study Area ............................................................................................................................................. 5 4 Fraser River VIC-GL Model .................................................................................................................... 7 4.1 Model Description ......................................................................................................................... 7 4.1.1 Land Cover ............................................................................................................................ 7 4.1.2 Soil ......................................................................................................................................... 9 4.1.3 Topography ........................................................................................................................... 9 4.1.4 Hydrologic Response Units ................................................................................................. 10 4.1.5 Routing network and drainage topology ............................................................................ 11 4.2 Forcing data ................................................................................................................................ 11 4.3 Model Calibration Method ......................................................................................................... 13 4.3.1 Streamflow .......................................................................................................................... 14 4.3.2 Evapotranspiration .............................................................................................................. 15 4.3.3 Snow Cover Area ................................................................................................................. 16 4.3.4 Glacier Mass Balance .......................................................................................................... 16 4.3.5 Multi-objective Optimization Function ............................................................................... 17 4.3.6 Parameter Selection ............................................................................................................ 17 4.4 Calibration Results ...................................................................................................................... 18 5 Phase 1 Outstanding Issues ................................................................................................................ 22 5.1 Model Verification ...................................................................................................................... 22 5.2 Hydrologic Projections ................................................................................................................ 22 6 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 24 7 References .......................................................................................................................................... 25 Appendix A – Tables .................................................................................................................................... A1 iii List of Figures Figure 1. Fraser River study area. ................................................................................................................. 5 Figure 2. Land cover - elevation distribution of HRUs in the VICGL Fraser River application. ..................... 9 Figure 3. Example subset of soil parameters for the Fraser basin showing a) thickness of the bottom soil layer, b) saturated hydraulic conductivity of the top soil layer, c) wilting point of the bottom soil layer, and d) particle soil density of the bottom soil layer. .................................................................................. 10 Figure 4. Model domain showing sub-basins (colored polygons) and model drainage network (blue line). Sub-basin outlets are show as red dots (with labels). The thickness of drainage network is proportional to upstream drainage area. ........................................................................................................................ 12 Figure 5. Example calibration graphics comparing simulated versus observed for basin BCHLJ (Bridge River at La Joie Dam) for a) daily discharge hydrograph, b) multi-year average daily discharge, c) daily flow duration curve, d) scatterplot if annual maximum peak flow, e) multi-year average monthly ET, and f) monthly snow cover fraction. .................................................................................................................. 19 Figure 6. Calibration results summarized as box plots, where the thick line shows the median, the box shows the interquartile range (range between the 1st and 3rd quartiles, or 25th and 75th percentiles), whiskers extend to 1.5 times the interquartile range, and outliers are shown as dots. Note that results for HMLEQ have been omitted as results between basins are not directly comparable. ........................... 21 Figure 7. Variation of BMFB with relative glacier area ................................................................................ 21 List of Tables Table 1. VICGL land cover classes ................................................................................................................. 8 Table 2. Parameter values for Fuzzy Score calculation ............................................................................... 18 Table 3. Calibration performance summary ............................................................................................... 20 Table 4. Global climate experiments used in study ensemble ................................................................... 23 Table A1. Sub-basins for the VICGL Fraser model....................................................................................... A1 Table A2. Calibration performance by sub-basin ........................................................................................ A3 iv 1 Background Approximately 380,000 people live in floodplains in the Fraser River basin (based on the 2011 Statistics Canada census, Ebbwater Consulting) and several large communities, including parts of Greater Vancouver, are vulnerable to flooding. Specifically, the greatest flood risk is in the lower Fraser Valley, a floodplain area bordering the Fraser River and extending approximately 170 km downstream from the town of Hope to the river’s mouth, where it flows through Greater Vancouver to tidewater. The occurrence of flooding in this stretch of the Fraser would have substantial social and economic consequences. The anticipated intensification of the global water cycle due to climate change (Huntington 2006; Collins et al. 2013) and its effect on hydrologic systems (Jiménez Cisneros et al. 2017) could have significant implications on the magnitude and frequency of flood hazards. In this context, the nonstationarity of hydrologic extremes (Milly et al. 2008; Salas and Obeysekera 2014; Katz 2013; Rootzén and Katz 2013) is highly relevant as the hazard of riverine flooding could alter significantly in many regions of the world. The potential for changes in sea level is also a significant consideration for coastal communities. Ocean thermal expansion and glacier and ice sheet melt have contributed to rising ocean levels during the 20th century, and it is very likely that the rate of global mean sea level rise during the coming decades will exceed rates observed over the past decades (Church et al. 2013). However, local sea level changes along the Pacific Coast of Canada (which is influenced by vertical land motion and regional ocean dynamics) can differ significantly from the global mean (Han et al. 2015). For the design of flood management structures a design flood profile, or water level, is specified, which is often obtained via hydraulic modelling. This design flood profile is governed by the specification of both upstream and downstream boundary conditions intended to represent extreme discharge and sea level conditions, respectively referred to as the design flow and the design level. The most recent official, provincial design flood profile
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Hydrothermal Characteristics of the Nechako Reservoir
    Hydrothermal Characteristics of the Nechako Reservoir Phase 2 Report 2006/07 Gregory A. Lawrence, Ph.D., P.Eng. 1 Roger Pieters, Ph.D. 1,2 Tel: (604) 822 5371 Tel: (604) 822 4297 [email protected] [email protected] Bernard Laval, Ph.D., P.Eng. 1 Yasmin Nassar1 Tel: (604) 822 2204 Tel: (604) 827 5367 [email protected] [email protected] Yehya Imam1 Samuel Li, Ph.D. 1 Tel: (604) 822 4853 Tel: (250) 807 8145 [email protected] [email protected] 1Department of Civil Engineering 2 Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences University of British Columbia Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 Prepared for Nechako Enhancement Society c/o Suite 850-899 West Hasting Street Vancouver B.C. V6C 2W2 August 23, 2007 Executive Summary The Nechako Enhancement Society (NES), a joint partnership of Alcan Inc. and the Province of British Columbia, is considering building a Cold Water Release Facility (CWRF) at Kenney Dam on the Nechako Reservoir. The CWRF would draw cold deep water from the reservoir to reduce the temperature of the Nechako River for fish migration. The NES has requested an assessment of the ability of the CWRF to deliver up to 170 m3/s of 10 ºC water between July 20 and August 20 (a total of 0.47 km3). We have examined the physical limnology of the two basins adjacent to Kenney Dam (Knewstubb and Natalkuz lakes). In particular, we have: • Collected temperature profiles in the summer of 2005, 2006 and 2007; these were compared with data from 1990 (Limnotek) and 1994 (Triton).
    [Show full text]
  • 20. Aboriginal Rights and Interests Effects
    20. ASSESSMENT OF ABORIGINAL AND TREATY RIGHTS AND RELATED INTERESTS 20.1 INTRODUCTION This chapter assesses potential adverse effects on Aboriginal and Treaty rights and related interests which may arise from the Project during construction, operations, decommissioning/reclamation, and post-closure. Underground mining activities have the potential to adversely affect Aboriginal and Treaty rights by interfering with Aboriginal groups’ ability to engage in practices, customs, and traditions that are integral to their distinctive cultures, and/or by interfering with the exercise of rights expressly recognized in a treaty. Interference with Aboriginal and Treaty rights is generally indirect, resulting from changes to environmental conditions that are necessary for the continued exercise of Aboriginal and Treaty rights. The assessment is based on information derived from the Proponent’s engagement with potentially- affected Aboriginal groups, environmental assessments carried out elsewhere in the Application/EIS, and the review of secondary data. Wherever possible, the assessment addresses potential effects on Aboriginal and treaty rights and related interests as understood from the perspective of the Aboriginal groups in question. Baseline reports informing this assessment are appended to the Application/EIS and include: Ethnographic Overview and Traditional Knowledge and Use Desk-Based Research Report (Appendix 17-A) and Saulteau First Nations Knowledge and Use Study for HD Mining Murray River Coal Project (Appendix 17-B). 20.2 REGULATORY AND POLICY FRAMEWORK The Crown has a legal duty to consult with and, where appropriate, accommodate Aboriginal interests when it contemplates a conduct that might adversely impact the potential or established Aboriginal or Treaty right. The Crown delegated procedural aspects of this duty, with respect to the Project, to the Proponent through the Section 11 Order and EIS Guidelines.
    [Show full text]
  • Nechako Watershed Council Report: Assessment of Potential Flow Regimes for the Nechako Watershed
    NECHAKO WATERSHED COUNCIL REPORT: ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL FLOW REGIMES FOR THE NECHAKO WATERSHED Prepared by: 4Thought Solutions Inc. Suite 334 125A – 1030 Denman Street Vancouver, BC V6G 2M6 Prepared for: Nechako Enhancement Society & Nechako Watershed Council Contact person: Kristann Boudreau Senior Consultant, 4Thought Solutions Inc. Telephone: (604) 689-8443 Fax: 1-866-873-4045 E-mail: [email protected] Disclaimer: This internal discussion paper was commissioned to assist the Nechako Watershed Council with the process of developing consensus recommendations on flow regimes for the Nechako Watershed downstream of the Kenney Dam, assuming that a Cold Water Release Facility is constructed at Kenney Dam. Any views or opinions expressed in this draft are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the members of the Nechako Watershed Council (NWC) or the Nechako Enhancement Society (NES), until the final draft has been signed off by all NWC. Date: March 18, 2005 [FINAL] Assessment of Potential Flow Regimes for the Nechako Watershed March 18, 2005 Executive Summary This report summarizes the Nechako Watershed Council’s (NWC) work, analyses, and consensus-based recommendations completed to date related to proposed flow regimes for the Nechako Watershed downstream of Kenney Dam if a cold water release facility is constructed at the dam. The facility’s construction is currently contingent on: 1) sufficient funds being contributed to the Nechako Environmental Enhancement Fund (NEEF) and, 2) the decision of the NEEF Management Committee to use the funds for the construction of a cold- water release facility (CWRF) at Kenney Dam being implemented. This report is a “working” or “living” document, recognizing that the NWC is still in the midst of a consensus-based decision-making process to develop recommendations on a preferred post-CWRF flow regime.
    [Show full text]
  • Late Prehistoric Cultural Horizons on the Canadian Plateau
    LATE PREHISTORIC CULTURAL HORIZONS ON THE CANADIAN PLATEAU Department of Archaeology Thomas H. Richards Simon Fraser University Michael K. Rousseau Publication Number 16 1987 Archaeology Press Simon Fraser University Burnaby, B.C. PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Roy L. Carlson (Chairman) Knut R. Fladmark Brian Hayden Philip M. Hobler Jack D. Nance Erie Nelson All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ISBN 0-86491-077-0 PRINTED IN CANADA The Department of Archaeology publishes papers and monographs which relate to its teaching and research interests. Communications concerning publications should be directed to the Chairman of the Publications Committee. © Copyright 1987 Department of Archaeology Simon Fraser University Late Prehistoric Cultural Horizons on the Canadian Plateau by Thomas H. Richards and Michael K. Rousseau Department of Archaeology Simon Fraser University Publication Number 16 1987 Burnaby, British Columbia We respectfully dedicate this volume to the memory of CHARLES E. BORDEN (1905-1978) the father of British Columbia archaeology. 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................................vii List of Figures.....................................................................................................................................iv
    [Show full text]
  • Two Wheel Drive: Mountain Biking British Columbia's Coast Range
    Registration 1/5/16, 12:00 PM Ritt Kellogg Memorial Fund Registration Registration No. 9XSX-4HC1Z Submitted Jan 4, 2016 1:19pm by Erica Evans Registration Sep 1, 2015- Ritt Kellogg Memorial Fund Waiting for Aug 31 RKMF Expedition Grant 2015/2016/Group Application Approval This is the group application for a RKMF Expedition Grant. In this application you will be asked to provide important details concerning your expedition. Participant Erica Evans Colorado College Student Planned Graduation: Block 8 2016 CC ID Number: 121491 [email protected] [email protected] (435) 760-6923 (Cell/Text) Date of Birth: Nov 29, 1993 Emergency Contacts james evans (Father) (435) 752-3578 (436) 760-6923 (Alternate) Medical History Allergies (food, drug, materials, insects, etc.) 1. Fish, Pollen (Epi-Pen) Moderate throat reaction usually solved by Benadryl. Emergency prescription for Epi-Pen for fish allergy 2. Wear glasses or contacts Medical Details: I wear glasses and contacts. Additional Questions Medications No current medications Special Dietary Needs No fish https://apps.ideal-logic.com/worker/report/28CD7-DX6C/H9P3-DFPWP_d9376ed23a3a456e/p1a4adc8c/a5a109177b335/registration.html Page 1 of 12 Registration 1/5/16, 12:00 PM Last Doctor's Visit Date: Dec 14, 2015 Results: Healthy Insurance Covered by Insurance Yes Insurance Details Carrier: Blue Cross/ Blue Shield Name of Insured: Susanne Janecke Relationship to Erica: Mother Group Number: 1005283 Policy Number: ZHL950050123 Consent Erica Evans Ritt Kellogg Memorial Fund Consent Form (Jul 15, 2013) Backcountry Level II Recorded (Jan 4, 2016, EE) Erica Evans USE THIS WAIVER (Nov 5, 2013) Backcountry Level II Recorded (Jan 4, 2016, EE) I.
    [Show full text]
  • Fish 2002 Tec Doc Draft3
    BRITISH COLUMBIA MINISTRY OF WATER, LAND AND AIR PROTECTION - 2002 Environmental Indicator: Fish in British Columbia Primary Indicator: Conservation status of Steelhead Trout stocks rated as healthy, of conservation concern, and of extreme conservation concern. Selection of the Indicator: The conservation status of Steelhead Trout stocks is a state or condition indicator. It provides a direct measure of the condition of British Columbia’s Steelhead stocks. Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are highly valued by recreational anglers and play a locally important role in First Nations ceremonial, social and food fisheries. Because Steelhead Trout use both freshwater and marine ecosystems at different periods in their life cycle, it is difficult to separate effects of freshwater and marine habitat quality and freshwater and marine harvest mortality. Recent delcines, however, in southern stocks have been attributed to environmental change, rather than over-fishing because many of these stocks are not significantly harvested by sport or commercial fisheries. With respect to conseration risk, if a stock is over fished, it is designated as being of ‘conservation concern’. The term ‘extreme conservation concern’ is applied to stock if there is a probablity that the stock could be extirpated. Data and Sources: Table 1. Conservation Ratings of Steelhead Stock in British Columbia, 2000 Steelhead Stock Extreme Conservation Conservation Healthy Total (Conservation Unit Name) Concern Concern Bella Coola–Rivers Inlet 1 32 33 Boundary Bay 4 4 Burrard
    [Show full text]
  • Midcretaceous Thrusting in the Southern Coast Belt, British
    TECTONICS, VOL. 15, NO. 2, PAGES, 545-565, JUNE 1996 Mid-Cretaceous thrusting in the southern Coast Belt, British Columbia and Washington, after strike-slip fault reconstruction Paul J. Umhoefer Departmentof Geology,Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff Robert B. Miller Departmentof Geology, San JoseState University, San Jose,California Abstract. A major thrust systemof mid-Cretaceousage Introduction is presentalong much of the Coast Belt of northwestern. The Coast Belt in the northwestern Cordillera of North North America. Thrusting was concurrent,and spatially America containsthe roots of the largest Mesozoic mag- coincided,with emplacementof a great volume of arc intrusives and minor local strike-slip faulting. In the maticarc in North America, which is cut by a mid-Creta- southernCoast Belt (52ø to 47øN), thrusting was followed ceous,synmagmatic thrust system over muchof its length by major dextral-slipfaulting, which resultedin significant (Figure 1) [Rubin et al., 1990]. This thrust systemis translationalshuffling of the thrust system. In this paper, especiallywell definedin SE Alaska [Brew et al., 1989; Rubin et al., 1990; Gehrels et al., 1992; Haeussler, 1992; we restorethe displacementson major dextral-slipfaults of the southernCoast Belt and then analyze the mid-Creta- McClelland et al., 1992; Rubin and Saleeby,1992] and the southern Coast Belt of SW British Columbia and NW ceousthrust system. Two reconstructionswere madethat usedextral faulting on the Yalakom fault (115 km), Castle Washington(Figure 1)[Crickmay, 1930; Misch, 1966; Davis et al., 1978; Brown, 1987; Rusrnore aad Pass and Ross Lake faults (10 km), and Fraser fault (100 Woodsworth, 199 la, 1994; Miller and Paterson, 1992; km). The reconstructionsdiffer in the amount of dextral offset on the Straight Creek fault (160 and 100 km) and Journeayand Friedman, 1993; Schiarizza et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Fisheries Presentation to the CEAA Panel on the Prosperity Project April 27, 2010
    Fisheries Presentation to The CEAA Panel On the Prosperity Project April 27, 2010 20+20=20+20= 4040 By: Richard Holmes MSc. RPBio. QEP WildWild SalmonSalmon PolicyPolicy (Photo by Peter Essick) ConservationConservation UnitsUnits sockeye-lake 218 sockeye-river 24 chinook 68† coho 43 chum 38† pink-even 13 pink-odd 19 Sub-total 423 FishFish SpeciesSpecies KnownKnown toto InhabitInhabit TasekoTaseko RiverRiver ¾ BullBull TroutTrout ¾ DollyDolly VardenVarden ¾ LongnoseLongnose SuckerSucker ¾ MountainMountain WhitefishWhitefish ¾ RainbowRainbow TroutTrout ¾ SockeyeSockeye SalmonSalmon ¾ ChinookChinook SalmonSalmon ¾ SteelheadSteelhead ¾ WhitefishWhitefish (General)(General) TasekoTaseko RiverRiver SockeyeSockeye EscapementEscapement 19491949--20092009 ¾¾ EscapementEscapement == thosethose returningreturning toto spawnspawn ¾¾ 19631963 == 31,66731,667 ¾¾ 19881988 == 11,13811,138 ¾¾ 2009=2009= 4040 ¾¾ Sorry,Sorry, butbut II’’mm notnot convincedconvinced whatsoeverwhatsoever thatthat thingsthings areare simplysimply goinggoing toto bebe okok inin thethe TasekoTaseko RiverRiver watershedwatershed shouldshould thisthis minemine bebe grantedgranted approvalapproval toto proceedproceed Lake Sockeye CUs in Pacific/Yukon 218 CUs • notable diversity: NC CC, NVI, SFj Diversity = Production Lake Sockeye CUs in Pacific/Yukon 218 CUs • notable diversity: NC CC, NVI, SFj Diversity = Production Year Population Peak of Spawn Total Males Females Jacks 1948 Taseko Lake 0000 1949 Taseko Lake 100 62 38 0 1950 Taseko Lake 500 250 250 0 1951 Taseko Lake 500 250
    [Show full text]
  • Inventory of Wildlife, Ecological and Landscape Coonectivity Values
    INVENTORY OF WILDLIFE, ECOLOGICAL, AND LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY VALUES, TSILHQOT'IN FIRST NATIONS CULTURAL/HERITAGE VALUES, & RESOURCE CONFLICTS IN THE DASIQOX-TASEKO WATERSHED, BC CHILCOTIN FINAL REPORT (Revised) August 4, 2014 For Xeni Gwet’in & Yunesit’in First Nations By Wayne McCrory, RPBio McCrory Wildlife Services Ltd. Phone: 250-358-7796; email: [email protected] and First Nations cultural/heritage research: Linda Smith, MSc, & Alice William GIS mapping by Baden Cross, Applied Conservation GIS Corridor modeling by Dr. Lance Craighead, Craighead Research Institute ii LEGAL COVENANT FROM THE XENI GWET’IN GOVERNMENT When the draft of this report was completed in March 2014, the following legal covenant was included: The Tsilhqot'in have met the test for aboriginal title in the lands described in Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia 2007 BCSC 1700 (“Tsilhqot’in Nation”). Tsilhqot’in Nation (Vickers J, 2007) also recognized the Tsilhqot’in aboriginal right to hunt and trap birds and animals for the purposes of securing animals for work and transportation, food, clothing, shelter, mats, blankets, and crafts, as well as for spiritual, ceremonial, and cultural uses throughout the Brittany Triangle (Tachelach’ed) and the Xeni Gwet’in Trapline. This right is inclusive of a right to capture and use horses for transportation and work. The Court found that the Tsilhqot’in people also have an aboriginal right to trade in skins and pelts as a means of securing a moderate livelihood. These lands are within the Tsilhqot'in traditional territory, the Xeni Gwet'in First Nation’s caretaking area, and partially in the Yunesit’in Government’s caretaking area.
    [Show full text]
  • Taseko Lake Outfitters
    MANAGEMENT PLAN Taseko Lake Outfitters Siegfried Jurgen Reuter Kelly Gayle Reuter October 2012 Taseko Lake Outfitters Management Plan 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Management Plan 2 Proponents & General Overview of Business 2 Description of Operation & Activities 2 1.1 General Area & Base Operation 2 1.2.1 Purpose & Description of Experience 2 Activities Offered 2 1.2.2 Improvements 2 1.2.3 Detailed list of Activities & Level of Use 2 Table 1 Extensive Use Area 2 1.2.4 Staff 2 1.3 Intensive Use Sites 2 Facilities & Camps 2 Table 3 Details of Intensive Use Sites 2 Overlap with Environmental & Cultural Values 2 2.1 Fish Values 2 2.2 Wildlife Values 2 2.3 Water Values 2 2.4 First Nations 2 Overlap with Existing Use 2 3.1 Mineral tenures 2 Taseko Lake Outfitters Management Plan 2 3.2 Timber Tenures and Public Recreation: 3 3.3 Land Use, Community, Public Health 3 3.4 Hazards and Safety Plan 3 Maps of Taseko Lake Outfitters 3 Taseko Lake Outfitters Management Plan 3 MANAGEMENT PLAN Taseko Lake Outfitters Executive Summary Proponents & General Overview of Business Siegfried & Kelly Reuter wholly owns Taseko Lake Outfitters. It is a subsidiary of North- ern Spruce Log homes & Landscaping Ltd. and was incorporated on January 16, 1991 with British Columbia incorporation #399997. The Taseko Lake Lodge has been on a License of Occupation for Guide Outfitting for over 75 years. The structures are solid log and not merely tent frames. There has been substantial investment and improvement made to BC land over the years by dedicated and hard working pioneers of wilderness tourism, former guide outfitters.
    [Show full text]
  • Record of Large, Late Pleistocene Outburst floods Preserved in Saanich Inlet Sediments, Vancouver Island, Canada A
    ARTICLE IN PRESS Quaternary Science Reviews 22 (2003) 2327–2334 Record of large, Late Pleistocene outburst floods preserved in Saanich Inlet sediments, Vancouver Island, Canada A. Blais-Stevensa,*, J.J. Clagueb,c, R.W. Mathewesd, R.J. Hebdae, B.D. Bornholdf a Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ont., Canada K1A 0E8 b Department of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada BC V5A 1S6 c Geological Survey of Canada, 101-605 Robson Street, Vancouver, Canada BC V6B 5J3 d Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada BC V5A 1S6 e Royal British Columbia Museum, P.O. Box 9815 Stn. Prov. Gov., Victoria, Canada BC V8W 9W2 f School of Earth and Ocean Science, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3055, Stn. CSC, Victoria, Canada BC V8W 3P6 Received 23 December 2002; accepted 27 June 2003 Abstract Two anomalous, gray, silty clay beds are present in ODP cores collected from Saanich Inlet, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The beds, which date to about 10,500 14C yr BP (11,000 calendar years BP), contain Tertiary pollen derived from sedimentary rocks found only in the Fraser Lowland, on the mainland of British Columbia and Washington just east of the Strait of Georgia. Abundant illite-muscovite in the sediments supports a Fraser Lowland provenance. The clay beds are probably distal deposits of huge floods that swept through the Fraser Lowland at the end of the Pleistocene. Muddy overflow plumes from these floods crossed the Strait of Georgia and entered Saanich Inlet, where the sediment settled from suspension and blanketed diatom-rich mud on the fiord floor.
    [Show full text]
  • Field Collection and Geochemical Characterization of Potential Mesozoic Source Rocks on Northern Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands
    Field Collection and Geochemical Characterization of Potential Mesozoic Source Rocks on Northern Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands Report prepared for University of Victoria (UVic) – Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) Partnership Program Dr. Torge Schuemann School of Earth and Ocean Sciences University of Victoria 2005 1 Introduction The Tertiary Queen Charlotte Basin (QCB) is located immediately inboard of the Pacific - North American plate boundary and comprises Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait, and Queen Charlotte Sound from north to south (Figure 3). A network of fault-bound sub-basins in Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound contain up to 5 km of sandstones, siltstones and conglomerates with some coals, which are known as the Skonun Formation (Figure 1). Based on reflection seismic and well data the Skonun Formation has been divided into syn-rift and post-rift successions. Fossils indicate Miocene and Pliocene ages. At many locations, the basal sediments either interfinger or overly extensional basaltic rocks of the Masset Formation (Hickson, 1992; Hyndman & Hamilton, 1993). Masset rocks on Graham Island have yielded ages of 35-12 Ma; most fall between 25-20 Ma (Figure 1). Unfortunately no reliable dates are available from basalts drilled in the wells. Upper Triassic / Lower Jurassic potential source rocks, mainly in the Peril, Sandilands and Ghost Creek formations from the Kunga and Maude groups as well as Cretaceous formations, are exposed on the Queen Charlotte Islands (QCI). Both the Sandilands and Ghost Creek formations comprise significant organic-rich petroleum source rocks in the region, which reach up to 600m in thickness with Total Organic Carbon (TOC) up to 6.1%, comprising oil-prone Type I and oil and gas-prone Type II kerogens with Hydrogen Index (HI) values ranging up to 589 mg HC/g Corg (Bustin & Mastalerz, 1995; Macauley, 1983; Snowdon etal., 2002, see also Figure 2).
    [Show full text]