https://hdl.handle.net/10388/16457

The Saskatchewan River Delta is one of the most extensive and biodiverse inland deltas in Canada. This area is situated on the traditional land of the Cumberland House Cree Nation, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, and Cumberland House Métis. There have been vast changes to the Saskatchewan River Delta’s flow patterns in the past century, which have had a profound impact on the people who live there as well as the surrounding ecosystem. One of the most prevelant results has been an overall reduction in the amount of water that reaches the delta in the summer. These changes have negatively impacted fish production in the area, which many of the inhabitants rely on as a valuable resource. In addition to the flow changes, sediment has become trapped in the reservoirs upstream, which yields a net sediment depletion in the delta over time. This depletion causes the banks and channel beds to erode, which has negative impacts on the surrounding areas as well. Sediment restoration is needed, but possible sediment sources may be contaminated, and so sediment management techniques must incorporate remediation methods that are feasible for the area. This project is a part of a larger project that is striving to determine whether sediment restoration is a viable option for the Saskatchewan River Delta.

https://hdl.handle.net/10388/16457