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Areas of interest

I am researching the location and characteristics of rapids in the Fraser Canyon, British Columbia, and investigating how hillslope processes like rockfalls and debris flows are linked to their formation. Rapids are characteristic of bedrock rivers, yet our understanding of rapids in bedrock canyons is based primarily on work conducted in the arid southwestern United States, which does not necessarily translate to rivers located in different regions. The Fraser River is a crucial pathway for salmon migration, which is threatened by hillslope-derived channel blockages that can create rapids. Instances in the recent past of channel blockages due to mass movements in the Fraser River at Big Bar in 2018, as well as the Chilcotin River Tributary in 2024, are reminders of the high risk associated with these events. By understanding the dynamics at play in these environments, we can work to mitigate ecosystem harm when these events occur in the future.