Water Research at the. Bronwyn Benkert, PhD Isotope Hydrologist and Project Coordinator

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1 Water Research at the Bronwyn Benkert, PhD Isotope Hydrologist and Project Coordinator

2 Yukon Research Centre, Yukon College Solving northern problems with northern expertise by: Answering questions Supporting and advancing local innovation Providing research services 2 nd in research intensity of all colleges in Canada

3 Expand northern research and innovation opportunities

4 Water research at the Yukon Research Centre 1. Relevant existing projects 2. New and emerging research opportunities 3. How can we help?

5 Interpretation of water isotope tracer data for the Yukon River watershed, to support fish and wildlife habitat protection Partnership between Yukon Research Centre and Yukon River Intertribal Watershed Council Funder Goal: Examine water isotope data from Indigenous Observation Network sites in the Canadian portion of the Yukon River basin.

6 Water isotope results for Canadian ION sites

7 *draft*

8 Characterizing hydrological processes in the headwater region of the Yukon River: Impacts on discharge and implications for hydroelectric security Partners Funder c Focus: Implications of climate change on headwater region of Yukon River and impacts on downstream discharge Monitoring stations and field studies Glacial and hydrological modelling Climate change scenarios for predictive modelling

9 Hydrosecurity project activities

10 The Accessibility, Quality and Safety of Drinking Water in Watson Lake, Upper Liard, and Albert Creek, Yukon A research project by the Liard First Nation, the Yukon Research Centre, and the University of Saskatchewan. Project Goal Create a community baseline of information on drinking water quality, access, and safety Activities Conduct well testing on LFN private wells Complete groundwater and surface water mapping Conduct household surveys on drinking water quality, use of, concerns around, etc. Lisa Christensen, Yukon Research Centre lchristensen@yukoncollege.yk.ca

11 NSERC Industrial Research Chair NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Mine Life Cycles Dr. Amelie Janin Yukon Mine Research Consortium: Alexco, Capstone, Victoria Gold, Yukon Zinc, Casino Vision: Collaboration and partnerships will foster technology development and innovation that helps Yukon s mining industry achieve the highest environmental stewardship standards. Objectives: Advance northern research on water treatment; share knowledge; support local business Focus: mine-influenced water management and treatment (e.g., passive water treatment)

12 NSERC Industrial Research Chair Independent platform for discussion of mine water treatment with industry Bench-scale proof of concept Implementation of pilot bioreactors onsite On-going communication and results transfer Co-hosting of a 2-days workshop with Yukon Environment about passive water treatment in Yukon (June 2014)

13 New and proposed research opportunities Proposal submitted to NSERC for laser isotope analyzer (to be housed at the Yukon Research Centre lab) Proposal in development for CHARS for permafrost / isotope hydrology monitoring near Old Crow Lake sediment record of Old Crow flood history Proposal in development for SSHRC related to water strategy in CAFN Traditional Territory Collaborative isotope monitoring with Kluane Lake Watershed Collaboratorium

14 Ideas Use proxies to build baselines Build on existing models of community-led data collection Use students cheap, and builds capacity Cheap options for building baseline data via isotope techniques Evaporation pan network for territory-wide water balance modelling Sampling tapwater for first-pass groundwater monitoring

15 How can we help? We do water, plus PERMAFROST Key questions related to water: Spatial distribution Controls on surface and groundwater hydrology Is permafrost really an impermeable barrier?

16 How can we help? We do water, plus CLIMATE PROJECTIONS Source: Bonnaventure et al., 2012 Projecting the impacts of climate change Building better models to suit our landscape

17 Thank you!