The Drying Peace–Athabasca Delta, Canada: Review and Synthesis of Cryo-Hydrologic Controls and Projections to Future Climatic Conditions

Future climate conditions are projected to reduce the frequency of ice-jam floods, which are critical for replenishing perched basins in the Peace–Athabasca Delta (PAD), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar wetland. This study synthesizes cryo-hydrologic controls on the PAD's drying trend, leveraging Indigenous Traditional Knowledge, historical records, and extensive hydrometric data. It reveals that spring ice jams in the Peace and Athabasca Rivers drive overland flooding that sustains higher-elevation basins, though regulation of the Peace River has altered flood frequency. The findings highlight the vulnerability of the PAD's aquatic habitats under climate change, emphasizing the need for remedial strategies to mitigate drying trends.

Beltaos, S. (2023). The Drying Peace–Athabasca Delta, Canada: Review and Synthesis of Cryo-Hydrologic Controls and Projections to Future Climatic Conditions. Sustainability, 15(3), 2103. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032103