CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Bigelow, S.G.; Samuelson, G.M.; and Rood, S.B.
Date : 2005.
Title : The Little Bow River gets bigger: River characteristics and riparian plant communities in southwestern Alberta.
Publication : Annual Meeting of the Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers. March 11-13, 2005. University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
The Little Bow River in southwestern Alberta links the Bow and Oldman river basins. The Little Bow has an unusual landscape context and did not naturally support riparian woodlands due to an intermittent flow regime. Since about 1900, flow augmentation from the Highwood River has provided perennial flow that enabled the establishment of obligate riparian plants. Augmentation flows will be tripled following the completion of Alberta’s newest dam in 2003.This will have substantial impact on the river channel and riparian vegetation. The physical processes of hydrology and sediment and channel dynamics collectively comprise the hydrogeomorphic patterns that underlie riparian plant communities. Understanding the differing hydrogeomorphic requirements for the different plant communities along the Little Bow River should provide a basis to determine impacts of flow augmentation. This presentation describes the unusual physical context and history of the Little Bow River and our current research into the hydrogeomorphic requirements of the riparian plant communities.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology