The Ecological Significance of Emerging Deltas in Regulated Rivers

Sedimentary deltas forming in the world’s regulated rivers are a glaring gap in our knowledge of dammed riverine ecosystems. Basic ecological information is needed to inform the current debate about whether deltas should be retained and managed to gain ecosystem services lost under reservoirs or whe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBioscience Vol. 65; no. 6; pp. 598 - 611
Main Authors VOLKE, MALIA A., SCOTT, MICHAEL L., JOHNSON, W. CARTER, DIXON, MARK D.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford Oxford University Press 01.06.2015
Subjects
Aquatic ecosystems
Dams
Overview Articles
Reservoirs
Rivers
Sediments
United States > US
flow regulation
riparian
dams
restoration
ecosystem services
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Summary:Sedimentary deltas forming in the world’s regulated rivers are a glaring gap in our knowledge of dammed riverine ecosystems. Basic ecological information is needed to inform the current debate about whether deltas should be retained and managed to gain ecosystem services lost under reservoirs or whether they should be partially removed to improve flow conveyance and to resupply sediment-starved reaches below dams. An examination of nine deltas on the heavily regulated upper and middle Missouri River showed the following: The sizes, dynamics, and biotic communities vary widely across deltas; riparian forest has established on portions of most deltas; the current delta area is over 1000 square kilometers, exceeding forest area in remnant unimpounded reaches and offering considerable land area for restoration actions; and small adjustments to reservoir operations could improve the restoration potential of deltas. Ecological studies are urgently needed to determine the future role that deltas could play in river ecosystem restoration.
ISSN:0006-3568
1525-3244
DOI:10.1093/biosci/biv040