Discussion of “Frequency of ice-jam flooding of Peace-Athabasca Delta”

摘要

Beltaos (2018) presented an analysis of ice-jam flood frequency of the lower Peace River. Beltaos (2018) stated that the “ecosystem has experienced prolonged dry periods since the late 1960s, coincident with the construction of the W.A.C. Bennett hydroelectric dam” and concluded that river “regulation has played a role in the drying trend that has been experienced after 1967” in the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD). We argue that Beltaos (2018) oversimplifies the delta’s water balance, misrepresents the environmental history, does not place the flood history and proxy data within their appropriate spatial and temporal contexts, and presents an inappropriate statistical analysis.