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Hydrology of the Delta Marsh watershed : Water balance characterization and analysis of land use changes / Gregory John Schellenberg.

By: Material type: TextTextSeries: Thesis - M.ScPublication details: Winnipeg, MB : University of Manitoba, 2017.Description: ix, 187 pages : colour illustrations ; 28 cmLOC classification:
  • SCH
Online resources: Summary: A hydrological model was used to examine the water balance of the Delta Marsh Watershed (DMW) currently and as impacted by land use changes. Understanding DMW hydrology can help to improve conditions in the Delta Marsh. MIKE SHE model results showed that the water balance is typical of prairie conditions with limited wintertime activity, significant spring melt runoff, and high summertime evapotranspiration and infiltration. Results showed that the DMW contributes approximately 40 million m3 of water to the DeltaMarsh in an average year, or 710m3/ha/yr. Portage Creek is the single greatest inflow from the watershed (31% of total) and the West Marsh area also receives large runoff volumes (combined 37%of total). Analysis of land use changes showed that urban expansion in the DMW would increase annual marsh inflows by over 50% under one urbanization scenario due to associated decreases in infiltration and transpiration. An agricultural shift towards row crop predominance would have minimal impact on the DMW water balance. Conversion of cropland to natural vegetation would decrease annual runoff by 12% to the marsh due to increased surface ponding, infiltration, and transpiration.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 176-187).

A hydrological model was used to examine the water balance of the Delta Marsh Watershed
(DMW) currently and as impacted by land use changes. Understanding DMW
hydrology can help to improve conditions in the Delta Marsh. MIKE SHE model results
showed that the water balance is typical of prairie conditions with limited wintertime
activity, significant spring melt runoff, and high summertime evapotranspiration and
infiltration. Results showed that the DMW contributes approximately 40 million m3 of
water to the DeltaMarsh in an average year, or 710m3/ha/yr. Portage Creek is the single
greatest inflow from the watershed (31% of total) and the West Marsh area also receives
large runoff volumes (combined 37%of total). Analysis of land use changes showed that
urban expansion in the DMW would increase annual marsh inflows by over 50% under
one urbanization scenario due to associated decreases in infiltration and transpiration.
An agricultural shift towards row crop predominance would have minimal impact on
the DMW water balance. Conversion of cropland to natural vegetation would decrease
annual runoff by 12% to the marsh due to increased surface ponding, infiltration, and
transpiration.

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