The dynamics of wetland water loss in Churn Creek protected area

Kruk, Sarah (author)
Cohen-Fernandez, Anayansi (chair)
Orr, Craig (committee member)
British Columbia Institute of Technology School of Construction and the Environment (Degree granting institution)
Simon Fraser University Faculty of Environment (Degree granting institution)
Cohen-Fernandez, Anayansi (thesis advisor)
Ashley, Ken (thesis advisor)

Research paper/project

author

British Columbia Institute of Technology

2024-04-23

146 pages

Twelve Churn Creek Protected Area wetlands were characterized to gain an understanding of the potential factors affecting their water loss. Monitoring consisted of pond area, depth, and temperature measurements at twelve wetlands, and additional comprehensive monitoring at five wetlands, encompassing (1) randomized quadrat emergent vegetation sampling with canopy climate monitoring and beneath-canopy water property monitoring; (2) permanent radial soil transect sampling through compaction, electrical conductivity, moisture, and temperature measurements. Findings revealed that the rate of water loss at each wetland is dependent on its specific biological, chemical, and physical characteristics. A wetland’s elevational position in the landscape, as well as its basin shape and size, and vegetative cover and density, all played a prominent role in determining the rate of water loss. These findings underscored the importance of prioritizing vegetated wetlands in future monitoring efforts and serve as a foundation for comprehensive studies in CCPA and British Columbia grassland ecosystems.

closed-basin wetland
wetland hydrology
wetland water loss
pond evapotranspiration
semi-arid grasslands
wetland water balance

Ecological Restoration Program

electronic

Master of Science