The Government of Yukon has taken steps to enhance its understanding of water distribution, movement, and quality in the territory’s north, an area the government thinks has increasing potential for development. Minister of Environment Currie Dixon announced the water monitoring program upgrades October 10.
“The Yukon government established three new hydrometric monitoring stations over the summer to help us ensure we have the information we need for good decision making,” Dixon said. “This work supports the Draft Yukon Water Strategy goal of strengthening our understanding of Yukon’s surface and groundwater regimes.”
One of the new stations is near the mouth of Dalglish Creek in the Peel basin; one is on the Eagle River at the Dempster Highway; and the third is near the mouth of McParlon Creek. The two latter stations are each located in the Porcupine River basin.
The new stations add to the five which have been operating for decades in the North Yukon area. Overall, the Yukon Department of Environment and Environment Canada operate 64 hydrometric monitoring stations across the territory to gather such information as water levels and flow rates. The next step in the project will be the installation of a groundwater monitoring station on the Eagle River next year, and a number of water quality sampling campaigns over the next several years to record seasonal variations in water quality.
Related: Interview: Heather Jirousek on Yukon’s Water Strategy