Improving reservoir shoreline erosion prediction methods: Lessons from the Site C headpond phase

The impoundment of a reservoir can cause erosion that poses risks to public safety and land use around its shoreline. Methods that are currently available to predict shoreline erosion rates and help manage these risks rely on inputs that are challenging to constrain without historical observations, resulting in uncertain predictions that may significantly underestimate or overestimate the risks. The proposed research, which will be carried out in partnership with BGC Engineering Inc., aims to improve the accuracy of shoreline erosion predictions through detailed observations of erosion during the current phase of BC Hydro’s Site C Clean Energy Project, a new dam that is under construction on the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia. Several advanced data collection methods will be used, including drone-based laser scanning methods. The results of this research will help BGC and others better assess and manage risks around reservoir shorelines, and potentially along lake and ocean shorelines.

Faculty Supervisor:

Scott McDougall

Student:

Beatrice Collier-Pandya

Partner:

BGC Engineering Inc

Discipline:

Geography / Geology / Earth science

Sector:

Construction and infrastructure

University:

University of British Columbia