NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: arctic rivers, water chemistry, groundwater, permafrost thaw, groundwater discharge

Objective(s): To conduct spatially detailed surveys of water quality and stream discharge along the Miner River, in order to examine how water quality responds to organic-rich peatland tributary streams and retrogressive thaw slumping, and to examine the seasonal water quality of Caribou Creek and Rengleng River, in order to better understand how the recent emergence of winter flow is affecting river chemistry.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5596. The objectives of this study are to conduct spatially detailed surveys of water quality and stream discharge along the Miner River, in order to examine how water quality responds to organic-rich peatland tributary streams and retrogressive thaw slumping; and, to examine the seasonal water quality of Caribou Creek and Rengleng River, in order to better understand how the recent emergence of winter flow is affecting river chemistry. In June, small conductivity sensors will be installed into the Miner River at 4 key sites. This will allow the research team to monitor the water quality response of the Miner River to rainfall events. Up to twice per month (in June, July, August, and September) grab water samples will be obtained from the main channel of the Miner River, upstream and downstream of each active retrogressive thaw slump (n > 9, total n > 18). These sites will be accessed by helicopter. The low water levels expose gravel bars, which can be used as helicopter landing pads. At the time of sampling, in-situ water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity measurements will be taken using a YSI EXO3 Multiparameter Sonde. When possible, stream discharge measurements will be collected using a Sontek Flowtracker. The main River: Water samples will be collected using 500 ml pre-cleaned High Density Polyethylene bottles. Bottles will be triple rinsed with sample water before collection. All of the samples will be filtered immediately and kept at ~4°C until they can be analyzed. They will be analyzed for Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), Particulate Organic Carbon (POC), Total Dissolved Nitrogen (TDN), Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN; NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-N), Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON), Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP; PO43-), Major Ions (Ca2+, Cl-, F-, Na+, Mg2+, K+, SO42-, HCO3-), Dissolved Metals, and Total Metals (including Methyl Mercury). Caribou Creek and Rengleng River: Water samples will be collected from Caribou Creek and Rengleng River every two weeks from June 2023 to May 2024. All of the water samples were collected as close to the center of the channel as possible, in proximity to the Environment and Climate Change Canada gauging station. These sites are accessible from the Dempster Highway. At the time of sampling, in-situ water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductivity measurements will be taken using a YSI EXO3 Multiparameter Sonde. Water samples will be collected using 500mL pre-cleaned High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) bottles. Each bottle will be triple rinsed with sample water before collection. They will be filtered immediately and stored at ~4°C until analysis. They will be analyzed for Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC), Particulate Organic Carbon (POC), Total Dissolved Nitrogen (TDN), Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN; NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-N), Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON), Soluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP; PO43-), Major Ions (Ca2+, Cl-, F-, Na+, Mg2+, K+, SO42-, HCO3-), Dissolved Metals, and Total Metals. In February 2023, the Principal Investigator (PI), Erika Hille spoke briefly with a members of each the Gwichin Tribal Council (GTC) and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) about the research taking place at Caribou Creek, Rengleng River, and Miner River. This was followed by an email inquiring about whether the GTC and IRC would like to meet to discuss the project further. Steve Kokelj (Collaborator) has spoken with a member of the Gwich’in Land Use Planning Board about the work being done at Rengleng River. There will be a follow-up discussion over Zoom some time this spring to discuss how this work could support their research/monitoring priorities. Erika Hille presented to the Mackenzie River Basin Board on January 12, 2023. In this presentation, she discussed the planned research at both the Miner River and Rengleng River. A copy of this presentation is attached here. A recording of this presentation is publicly available via the Mackenzie River Basin Board. In March 2023, Erika Hille had an informal discussion with a member of the Inuvik Hunters and Trappers Committee (IHTC) about the possibility of presenting to the IHTC this spring. The presentation would outline the fieldwork planned for Summer 2023. Once this License application is submitted, Erika Hille will send it along to the Inuvik HTC and offer to meet to address any questions/concerns. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from June 10 to August 31, 2024.