The Effects Of Flow Regulation On Freeze Up Regime Peace River Taylor To The Slave River

Describes the effects of flow regulation on the freeze-up processes of part of the Peace River downstream of the Bennett Dam, which has regulated the river flow since 1972. Ice modelling and a review of ice observations and other field data were used to characterise the extent of flow regulation and its effects on ice in the river channel. Explicit equations and algorithms are presented that quantify the processes by which an ice cover forms on large regulated and non-regulated rivers. Work previously undertaken on the Peace River is also described to provide a framework for the calibration of these algorithms for the river in both its regulated and non-regulated condition. A procedure was developed for forecasting freeze-up on a non-regulated river and a stability relationship was derived that uses both air temperature and discharge to determine whether a juxtaposed or consolidated ice cover will form. In addition, the hydraulic characteristics of the Peace River were evaluated for six reaches using the existing data base.