Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area
Tags: contaminants, permafrost, permafrost thaw, treeline
| Principal Investigator: | Mamet, Steven D (5) |
| Licence Number: | 17380 |
| Organization: | Environmental Material Science Inc. |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
|
| Issued: | Oct 24, 2023 |
| Project Team: | Geoff Kershaw , LeeAnn Fishback |
Objective(s): To determine: 1) the status of permafrost landforms; 2) long-term recovery after abandonment of the CANOL No. 1 project, including oil spills and gravel pits; and, 3) the status of treeline.
Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5659. The objectives of this research project are to determine: 1) the status of permafrost landforms; 2) the circumstances surrounding long-term recovery after abandonment of the CANOL No. 1 project, including oil spills and gravel pits; 3) the status of treeline. Sampling and testing will consist of: 1) permafrost: thaw depth probing will be undergone, automated monitoring stations will be used; 2) treeline: tree core samples will be taken using an increment borer, height and diameter measurements will also be taken; 3) seedlings: viable local seed will be planted in experimental plots, germination and survival censuses will be taken each year; 4) shrubs/dwarf vegetation: a slack hammer soil sampler will be used for sampling. All sampling protocols are non-destructive, except where soil samples are taken. The chosen method of soil sampling leaves an approximately 10 cm diameter hole where the researchers have collected the ground vegetation and roots, and a ~20 cm long soil plug. During the research team’s tenure at Dechen la' Lodge in August, oral presentations of project results will be given to local and ephemeral residents, and tourists. Academic publications will be prepared from the data collected on this project. An annual report will be prepared for the Earthwatch Institute and the Aurora Research Institute. The PI will also circulate any publications, reports, and photos from this work to the Norman Wells Renewable Resource Council, Sahtu Renewable Resources Board, Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, Tulita District Land Corporation Limited, the Tulita Renewable Resources Council, and via social media. This would be a means to disseminate the results of this work to a wide audience, though suggestions are welcome from community members as to how to better spread the knowledge gained from this work. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from: August 12 - December 31, 2023
