CRT Library
Canada Case Study: Water Supply
“Given that the Columbia River basin contains large areas of glacier ice and that it has a well-developed hydroelectric system and significant agricultural land usage, it is important to understand the impact of glacier runoff on the economy of the basin. It is just as important to understand how knowledge of glacier processes could lead to more efficient use of the water resources of the basin. Before addressing these issues it is necessary to look at some interrelated aspects including: (1) the physiography of the basin, (2) the scale of hydropower development and how this affects the priorities of different time scales of runoff forecasts, (3) the fact that the river flows from Canada into the United States, making it mutually beneficial to sign the Columbia River treaty,
(4) the effect of short-term climatic fluctuations and possible long-term climatic change on the glacier runoff regime and the resulting economic impact, and (5) the runoff prediction methods currently employed and if and how they deal with glacier melt.” (Taken from introduction)
Note: the full text is not available in the CRTDL. For online availability, check: http://itia.ntua.gr/hsj/redbooks/149/iahs_149_0059.pdf
Author: Power, J.M.
Publisher: International Association of Hydrological Sciences
Date: 1986
