NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Tags: physical sciences, contaminants, water quality, active layer, permafrost, soil, vegetation, surficial stability

Objective(s): To monitor permafrost conditions in the Mackenzie Delta region; to examine freeze-back of the active layer and associated strength properties of freezing soil; to examine the influence of shrub removal on frozen ground and snow conditions at abandoned drilling-mud sumps; to investigate effectiveness of different soil sampling protocols on delineating contaminants in permafrost soils around drilling mud sumps; and to monitor the water quality of tundra lakes.

Project Description: This study will include: 1) monitoring permafrost conditions in the Mackenzie Delta region; 2) examining freeze-back of the active layer and associated strength properties of freezing soil; 3) examining the influence of shrub removal on frozen ground and snow conditions at abandoned drilling-mud sumps; 4) investigating effectiveness of different soil sampling protocols on delineating contaminants in permafrost soils around drilling mud sumps; and 5) monitoring the water quality of tundra lakes. General Methods: Field methods used for this study are low impact, and no impacts to traditional and other land uses are anticipated. Installation of ground temperature and snow survey sites is performed by hand (water jet drilling or hand augering) and as such, is designed to minimize disturbance to the vegetation and underlying permafrost. Construction of access to the sites is not required as access to the sites will be by snowmachine, truck (using existing roads, both all-weather and ice roads), and helicopter in winter; and boat and helicopter in summer. Site visits are usually brief, lasting only a few hours. In late summer, three person fly camps may be set up at sites T2 to T7, and Taglu Island for a maximum of 3 days. Environmental or wildlife monitors participating in this work play an important role in educating the research team regarding on-the-land practices, helping the team avoid wildlife encounters, and minimizing environmental disturbance. This project is a multiyear project and is the continuation of previously approved work. Where possible, to save on environmental impact, time and travel costs, lake study sites and permafrost monitoring sites will be visited in a single trip to an area. Over the past year, the interim results of this multi-year project have been presented to community members and local land and environmental agencies at several meetings in the Delta region. The researchers have also conducted field courses for environmental monitors, the NWT Water Board and Regulators. Their goal is to conduct future training and to continue to increase local community involvement. Their monitoring and research partnerships provide sharing of knowledge between the science and local communities and enable ongoing opportunities for community members and agencies to give input to their work, which provides important direction for their future studies. As in the past, they are always happy to provide interested community members with presentations of their research results and program updates. Fieldwork will be conducted from March 17 to April 15 and from July 15 to December 31, 2008, on close to 60 locations in the Mackenzie Delta region (maps available from the researcher or on your ARI website account).