NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Tags: bathymetry

Objective(s): To obtain necessary bathymetric data to complete volumetric calculations to determine the maximum winter water withdrawal volumes from potential water sources.

Project Description: The objective of the field program is to obtain necessary bathymetric data to complete volumetric calculations to determine the maximum winter water withdrawal volumes from potential water sources. As the field program will primarily be focused on the Fort Good Hope – Dempster Highway portion, the field crew (consisting of two people, plus a bear monitor) will mobilize out of Inuvik and/or Fort Good Hope. Based on the pre-planned lake-specific survey plans, longitudinal and perpendicular transects (as required by DFO 2010) will be completed at each identified water source to obtain bathymetric data for volumetric calculations. Depending on the lake surface area, one of two methods will be used to collect the necessary data to complete the bathymetric surveys. For water sources with a surface area less than 5 square kilometers, a remote-controlled depth sounding craft (e.g., Z-boat) will be deployed to collect continuous depth and geographic data throughout the lake. The pre-planned survey transects will be programmed into the sounding craft and the field crew will operate the craft from the shore, receiving bathymetric data in real-time via a field receiver and laptop with specialized software. For water sources with a surface area greater than 5 square kilometers, a boat-based survey system will be deployed. For these surveys, an integrated depth sounder/GPS receiver will be mounted to a motorized boat (e.g., 12 foot zodiac) and operated by the field crew. The field crew will drive the boat slowly across the lake, along pre-planned transects, to collect continuous depth and geographic data. The field program and results will be discussed during planned upcoming community consultations. In addition, as the results of the field program will be provided to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (MVLWB) to support the GNWT's project licensing, affected individuals and communities can access the results of the field program through the MVLWB Public Registry. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 16, 2014 to October 31, 2014.