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Skeena River Estuary and Marine Approaches: Patterns and Rates of Sedimentation
HydroTrend and Sedflux models are being initially evaluated within a bedrock confined estuary in British Columbia, Canada using Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) sedimentation data. Model results will then be used to determine sedimentation conditions in the Skeena Estuary, including important eelgrass beds and major port development areas. NRCAN marine geoscience surveys have acquired multibeam and acoustic backscatter datasets, piston cores, and grab samples across the Skeena Estuary and the contiguous marine areas. Data from these cruises have been compiled to produce an overview of seabed geomorphology, texture and sedimentation rates in the estuary and marine approaches. The model HydroTrend was used to estimate incoming sediment load from the Skeena River. Model estimates for suspended sediments are higher than past estimates due to a large contribution of suspended sediment predicted within a portion of the Skeena watershed previously excluded due to a lack of available hydrographic data. Sedimentation rates of 2.9 cm/yr estimated with the SedFlux model using HydroTrend sediment load results were similar to sedimentation rates of 2.75 cm/yr in Ogden Channel derived from radiocarbon-dated sediment cores. Cores recovered mud sequences in Ogden Channel, proximal to the Base Sands, and within Marcus Passage where radiocarbon dates indicated that sedimentation rates were as high as 2.83 cm/yr. In comparison, sedimentation rates further offshore in Chatham Sound are as low as 0.004 cm/yr. A relatively high sedimentation rate and seaward fining trend in grain size are interpreted as indicators of high riverine input to the seabed regionally.
