CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Hales, W.
Date : 1999
Title : Natural-state baselines for assessing effects of human activity, Fraser River, British Columbia
Publication : 1999 Canadian Coastal Conference. Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia, May 19-22, 1999.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
One of the challenges of assessing human impacts on the environment is obtaining background values with which to compare. Due to the pervasiveness of human activity, it is becoming increasingly difficult, if not impossible, to find "natural, undisturbed" environments to use as baselines in such assessments. The Fraser River delta is both a primary focus of urban-industrial development in British Columbia and a vital estuarine habitat. Little detailed information exists about the deltaic environments prior to the beginning of large scale activities such as dredging and river training in the late-19th century. No undisturbed estuary comparable to that of the Fraser River exists on the western coast of North America, and consequently, there are no systems from which we can obtain comparisons in order to appraise human impacts. I propose that a viable way to create a baseline for assessing these changes is by coring into sedimentary environments which pre-date large scale human activity. Analysis of these cores enables the development of "natural-state" baselines for parameters such as sedimentation rates and heavy metal concentrations against which current conditions can be compared. Appropriate checks must be implemented by exploiting indicators unaffected by human activity to ensure no confusion with natural changes.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology