Ice Jam Flooding of the Drying Peace-Athabasca Delta: Hindsight on the Accuracy of the Traditional Knowledge and Historical Flood Record

A reassessment of the Peace-Athabasca Delta's (PAD) historical flood record, compiled in 1995 using traditional knowledge and historical data, reveals that while major ice-jam floods—critical for recharging wetlands—are reliably documented, minor events may be overestimated. Recent advances in hydrometric monitoring and climatic analysis, along with eyewitness accounts dating back to the early 1900s, support the accuracy of major flood events but cast doubt on the reliability of smaller, inferred floods. This study underscores the ecological significance of the PAD, a UNESCO-listed Ramsar wetland within Wood Buffalo National Park, and its vulnerability to drying trends, informing future park management strategies.

Beltaos, S. (2025). Ice Jam Flooding of the Drying Peace-Athabasca Delta: Hindsight on the Accuracy of the Traditional Knowledge and Historical Flood Record. Environments, 12(10), 376. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12100376