Role of lake regulation on glacier‐fed rivers in enhancing salmon productivity: the Cook Inlet watershed, south‐central Alaska, USA

Dorava, Joseph M.; Milner, Alexander M.

doi:10.1002/1099-1085(200011/12)14:16/17<3149::aid-hyp139>3.3.co;2-p

Cited by 18 publications

(29 citation statements)

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Section: Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Glacier-fed rivers conserve a greater proportion of their annual flow budget for late summer and through winter than streams and rivers fed by snowmelt (78). Increased summer flows in glacier-fed rivers facilitate the migration of anadromous salmon through river corridors to spawning grounds at a time when other sources to flow are typically low (78). Some of the largest runs of anadromous salmon in southcentral Alaska that support commercial and sport fishing occur in glacially influenced rivers (79), but glacier shrinkage will diminish summer discharge, thereby potentially restricting adult salmon spawners migrating upstream.…”

Section: Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1D). For example, in the glacial Kenai River in Alaska, sport and commercial fisheries generate as much as USD $70 million to the state's economy, but increased flow variability and flooding caused by enhanced glacier melting and glacial outburst floods can significantly affect these important fisheries (78). Associated large-scale changes in basin geometry and rerouting of meltwater may significantly affect salmonid habitat (98).…”

Section: Ecosystem Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Glacier shrinkage driving global changes in downstream systems

Milner

Khamis

Battin

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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454

385

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Glaciers cover ∼10% of the Earth's land surface, but they are shrinking rapidly across most parts of the world, leading to cascading impacts on downstream systems. Glaciers impart unique footprints on river flow at times when other water sources are low. Changes in river hydrology and morphology caused by climate-induced glacier loss are projected to be the greatest of any hydrological system, with major implications for riverine and near-shore marine environments. Here, we synthesize current evidence of how glacier shrinkage will alter hydrological regimes, sediment transport, and biogeochemical and contaminant fluxes from rivers to oceans. This will profoundly influence the natural environment, including many facets of biodiversity, and the ecosystem services that glacier-fed rivers provide to humans, particularly provision of water for agriculture, hydropower, and consumption. We conclude that human society must plan adaptation and mitigation measures for the full breadth of impacts in all affected regions caused by glacier shrinkage.

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Section: Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ecosystem Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Glacier shrinkage driving global changes in downstream systems

Milner

Khamis

Battin

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

454

385

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“…The physical characteristics of streamwater are controlled by numerous factors including air temperature, discharge, streambed processes and topography [ 10 , 18 , 19 ]. In the Coast Mountains of Alaska, glaciers and seasonal snowcover are particularly important landscape controls on streamwater physical characteristics because meltwater from these cryospheric reservoirs moderates stream temperature during the summer months [ 8 , 20 – 22 ]. Glaciers can also attenuate the inter-annual variability in discharge by maintaining streamflow during extended periods in the summer runoff season [ 23 , 24 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stream Physical Characteristics Impact Habitat Quality for Pacific Salmon in Two Temperate Coastal Watersheds

et al. 2015

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Climate warming is likely to cause both indirect and direct impacts on the biophysical properties of stream ecosystems especially in regions that support societally important fish species such as Pacific salmon. We studied the seasonal variability and interaction between stream temperature and DO in a low-gradient, forested stream and a glacial-fed stream in coastal southeast Alaska to assess how these key physical parameters impact freshwater habitat quality for salmon. We also use multiple regression analysis to evaluate how discharge and air temperature influence the seasonal patterns in stream temperature and DO. Mean daily stream temperature ranged from 1.1 to 16.4°C in non-glacial Peterson Creek but only 1.0 to 8.8°C in glacial-fed Cowee Creek, reflecting the strong moderating influence glacier meltwater had on stream temperature. Peterson Creek had mean daily DO concentrations ranging from 3.8 to 14.1 mg L−1 suggesting future climate changes could result in an even greater depletion in DO. Mean daily stream temperature strongly controlled mean daily DO in both Peterson (R2=0.82, P<0.01) and Cowee Creek (R2=0.93, P<0.01). However, DO in Peterson Creek was mildly related to stream temperature (R2=0.15, P<0.01) and strongly influenced by discharge (R2=0.46, P<0.01) on days when stream temperature exceeded 10°C. Moreover, Peterson Creek had DO values that were particularly low (<5.0 mg L−1) on days when discharge was low but also when spawning salmon were abundant. Our results demonstrate the complexity of stream temperature and DO regimes in coastal temperate watersheds and highlight the need for watershed managers to move towards multi-factor risk assessment of potential habitat quality for salmon rather than single factor assessments alone.

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“…Glacier recession can have adverse effects on municipal, agricultural and industrial water supply (e.g., Barnett et al, 2005;Marshall et al, 2011). Loss of glacier meltwater in a watershed may also impact riverine ecosystems and salmon productivity (Dorava and Milner, 2000), and coastal ecosystems through alteration of dissolved organic matter in rivers (Hood et al, 2009). Melting glaciers may also be a prominent source of persistent organic pollutants, whereby pollutants which accumulate in glaciers through snowfall, are subsequently released during ice melt, often in concentrated amounts (e.g., Bogdal et al, 2009).…”

Section: Importance Of Glaciersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacier change in the Cariboo Mountains, British Columbia, Canada (1952–2005)

Beedle¹,

Menounos²,

Wheate³

2014

Preprint

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Abstract. We calculated dimensional change for 33 glaciers in the Cariboo Mountains of British Columbia for the latter half of the twentieth century. All glaciers receded during the period 1952–2005; area retreat averaged −0.19 ± 0.05% a−1. From 1952 to 1985, nine glaciers advanced. Following 1985, retreat rates accelerated to −0.41 ± 0.12% a−1. Thinning rates likewise accelerated, from −0.14 ± 0.04 m w.e. a−1 (1952–1985) to −0.50 ± 0.07 m w.e. a−1 for the period 1985–2005. Temperatures increased from the earlier to the latter period for the ablation (+0.38 °C) and accumulation (+0.87 °C) seasons, and average precipitation decreased, particularly in the accumulation season (−32 \\unit{mm}, −3.2%). Our comparison of surface area change with glacier morphometry corroborates previous studies that show primary relations between extent change and surface area. We also find, however, that the strength and sign of these relations varied for different epochs.

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Role of lake regulation on glacier‐fed rivers in enhancing salmon productivity: the Cook Inlet watershed, south‐central Alaska, USA

Cited by 18 publications

References 0 publications

Glacier shrinkage driving global changes in downstream systems

Glacier shrinkage driving global changes in downstream systems

Stream Physical Characteristics Impact Habitat Quality for Pacific Salmon in Two Temperate Coastal Watersheds

Glacier change in the Cariboo Mountains, British Columbia, Canada (1952–2005)

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