NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area

Tags: mining, water quality, biology, environmental baseline, fisheries assessment

Objective(s): Objectives of the aquatics studies are to determine fish presence/absence, characterize habitat and add to data collected in a similar programme in 2006. The objective of the water-quality sampling is to continue collection of data in streams and tributaries which flow through the project area. Hydrometric monitoring will enhance the flow history of streams down-gradient of the site. The objective of the meteorology programme is to continue to collect data from the existing meteorological station for air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, incident solar radiation, wind speed and direction, and daily precipitation.

Project Description: Objectives of the aquatics studies are to determine fish presence/absence, characterize habitat and add to data collected in a similar programme in 2006. The objective of the water-quality sampling is to continue collection of data in streams and tributaries which flow through the project area. Hydrometric monitoring will enhance the flow history of streams down-gradient of the site. The objective of the meteorology programme is to continue to collect data from the existing meteorological station for air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, incident solar radiation, wind speed and direction, and daily precipitation. AQUATICS: The fish study program is intended to confirm fish presence/absence in stream tributaries flowing down from the MacTung property area; in the NT, focus would be on the NT portion of the Lower Tsichu River and its tributary which crosses the property. Fishing, benthic sampling and habitat characterization will be conducted in conjunction with other programs, likely in August 2007. Instream fish (if present) will be captured with electrofishing equipment. All fish captured will be measured for length, weight and aging (scales). All live fish will be returned to the water body where collected. Only field measurements will be collected on any fish captured. No laboratory work will be conducted on fish, and no fish will be transported away from the collection area. To the extent possible, all fish captured will be released live back into the water body where collected. The methodology to be employed will be consistent with DFO’s Stream Survey Field Guide and British Columbia standards and procedures (which are nationally accepted). As in 2006, fish will be collected by electrofishing, using a Smith-Root 12B battery-powered backpack electrofisher. Benthic sampling (that is, sampling of organisms at the bottom of waterbodies) will be conducted at a series of sites corresponding to water-quality sampling sites in the NT portion of the project study area. A Hess invertebrate sampler will be used; samples will be preserved and sent to an invertebrate specialist for analysis. WATER-QUALITY SAMPLING: EBA proposes to continue water sampling in stream tributaries flowing down from the MacTung property area. Work will be conducted in three events to coincide with other surveys, i.e., in June, August and September 2007.It is planned to sample 4 stations in the NT portion of the study area on the Tsichu River and tributary. Water samples will be collected according to the strict quality assurance/quality control measures used for such sampling, then submitted to a certified analytical laboratory for analysis. HYDROLOGY: Hydrometric (waterflow measurement) stations previously sampled in the NT in 2006 will be revisited in two events, one event in late June 2007 (provided creeks are free of ice) and one in September 2007. Over approximately 3 days in June, creek stage monitoring instrumentation will be installed which will collect and store river stages at a frequency of 4 readings/hour. During the second and final event, the stage dataloggers will be downloaded and creek velocities measured to enhance the stage-discharge relationship. At the end of this 2-day trip, the monitoring equipment will be removed. The objective of the work will be revision to the stage-discharge curve, generation of time history of creek stages and flows, and time histories of creek water temperatures. METEOROLOGY: The meteorological (weather) station installed in 2005 in the vicinity of the camp will be revisited in 2007; visits will coincide with those of the hydrology program. During the visits, the station will be inspected, any required maintenance performed and data downloaded. As in 2006, the 2007 program will produce monthly plots of air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure and incident solar radiation, plots of wind speed and direction, monthly wind roses, and plots and tables of total daily precipitation (snow and rain) to enhance the existing precipitation data. Summary reports on all programme components will be supplied to Tulita, the closest NT community, and a complete final report will be provided, upon request. Fieldwork will be conducted from August 01 to October 31, 2007 at the MacTung Project area, which is located in the MacMillan Pass region of the Mackenzie Mountains, on the NT/Yukon border. Study area’s eastern boundary is located at 63° 16’ 46” N - 130° 10’ 00” W. Nearest community is Ross River, Yukon; nearest NT community is Tulita (roughly 260km NE). Base camp is on the Yukon side of the project area.