Strainer Entrainment and Removal on the Lower Bow River.

This project utilized historical aerial photographs and maps to develop a GIS-based inventory of channel changes along the Lower Bow River in Banff National Park. By applying systems threshold theory, we assessed whether strainer removal practices were adversely affecting the river's ecological integrity.

Our spatial-temporal analysis revealed that, when managed appropriately, the ecological impacts of strainer removal were transitory and insignificant. These findings informed the development of a new, safety-focused approach to strainer removal that minimizes ecological disruption while addressing public safety concerns.