This book presents a comprehensive overview of the first longitudinal study of the downstream response of a major river to the establishment of a large hydropower facility and dams. Peace River, a northward flowing boreal river in northwestern Canada was dammed in 1967 and the book describes the morphological response of the 1200 km downstream channel and the response of riparian vegetation to the change in flow regime over the first forty years of regulated flows. Beginning with a description of the effect of regulation on the flow and sediment regimes of the river, the book proceeds to study changes in downstream channel geometry on the main stem, on the lowermost course of tributaries, and on the hydraulic geometry, the overall morphology of the channel, and riparian vegetation succession. The river is subject to annual freeze-up and break-up, so a chapter is devoted to the ice regime of the river. A chapter compares the effects of two extraordinary post-regulation flood events. The penultimate chapter presents a prediction of the ultimate equilibrium form of the regulated river based on rational regime theory. An online database of all the main observations will provide invaluable material for advanced students of river hydraulics and geomorphology. This book carefully brings together a range of studies that have been previously inaccessible providing a rare and comprehensive analysis of the effects of a big dam on a river, a river that itself represents an example of the kind of system that is likely to receive considerable attention in the future from dam engineers and environmentalists. An invaluable reference to river scientists, hydroelectric power developers, engineers and environmentalists Focus on a northward flowing boreal river, a type that holds most of the remaining hydroelectric power potential in the Northern Hemisphere Exceptional separation of water and sediment sources, permitting study of the isolated effect of manipulating one of the two major governing conditions of river processes and form Unique example of water regulation and both natural and engineered flood flows Detailed study of both morphological changes of the channel and of the riparian vegetation Online data supplement including major data tables and numerous maps. Details of the main observations and provides material for problem study by advanced students of river hydraulics and geomorphology are provided

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the firstlongitudinal study of the downstream response of a major river tothe establishment of a large hydropower facility and dams. PeaceRiver, a northward flowing boreal river in northwestern Canada wasdammed in 1967 and the book describes the morphologicalresponse of the 1200 km downstream channel and the response ofriparian vegetation to the change in flow regime over the firstforty years of regulated flows.Beginning with a description of the effect of regulation on theflow and sediment regimes of the river, the book proceeds to studychanges in downstream channel geometry on the main stem, on thelowermost course of tributaries, and on the hydraulic geometry, theoverall morphology of the channel, and riparian vegetationsuccession. The river is subject to annual freeze-up and break-upso a chapter is devoted to the ice regime of the river. A chaptercompares the effects of two extraordinary post-regulation floodevents. The penultimate chapter presents a prediction of theultimate equilibrium form of the regulated river based on rationalregime theory. An online database of all the mainobservations will provide invaluable material for advanced studentsof river hydraulics and geomorphology.This book carefully brings together a range of studies that havebeen previously inaccessible providing a rare and comprehensiveanalysis of the effects of a big dam on a river, a river thatitself represents an example of the kind of system that islikely to receive considerable attention in the future from damengineers and environmentalists.* An invaluable reference to river scientists, hydroelectricpower developers, engineers and environmentalists* Focus on a northward flowing boreal river, a type thatholds most of the remaining hydroelectric power potential in theNorthern Hemisphere* Exceptional separation of water and sediment sourcespermitting study of the isolated effect of manipulating one of thetwo major governing conditions of river processes and form* Unique example of water regulation and both natural andengineered flood flows* Detailed study of both morphological changes of the channeland of the riparian vegetation* Online data supplement including major data tables andnumerous maps. Details of the main observations and providesmaterial for problem study by advanced students of river hydraulicsand geomorphology are provided

Contributing authors, viiPreface, ix1 On regulated rivers, 1Michael Church2 The regulation of Peace River, 13Michael Church3 Downstream channel gradation in the regulated Peace River, 39Christopher P. Ayles and Michael Church4 Tributary channel gradation due to regulation of Peace River, 67Christopher P. Ayles and Michael Church5 The hydraulic geometry of Peace River, 89Michael Church6 Ice on Peace River: effects on bank morphology and riparian vegetation, 115Lars Uunila and Michael Church7 Post-regulation morphological change on Peace River, 141Michael Church and Jiongxin Xu8 Studies of riparian vegetation along Peace River, British Columbia, 175Margaret E. A. North and Michael Church9 The response of riparian vegetation to flow regulation along Peace River, Alberta, 209Michael Church, Lars Uunila and Margaret E. A. North10 The floods of 1990 and 1996 on Peace River, 233Michael Church, Christopher P. Ayles and Brett C. Eaton11 The future state of Peace River, 251Brett C. Eaton and Michael Church12 Implications for river management, 267Michael ChurchAppendix: data files online, 273Index, 275