NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: North Slave Region

Tags: permafrost, hydrology

Objective(s): The objective of this research is to determine how climate warming and permafrost presence influence the water cycle and water chemistry of Taiga Shield streams.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No. 5545. The objective of this research is to determine how climate warming and permafrost presence influence the water cycle and water chemistry of Taiga Shield streams. The proposed work will take place within a research basin framework. The proposed watershed, the upper reaches of Baker Creek, is a typical Taiga Shield stream that drains ~150 km2 towards Great Slave Lake. There is significant existing infrastructure from which to build a strong field program that includes several Environment and Climate Change Canada hydrometeorological towers, and a Water Survey of Canada hydrometric gauge. Snow surveys will be conducted each spring by taking ten snow depth measurements and six snow samples each at ten snow course sites. Streamflow will be measured at five sites along Baker Creek with water depth sensors placed into the water and periodic stream velocity measurements by wading across the stream with a velocity sensor on a rod. Measurements from three climate stations located over different surfaces (exposed bedrock, forest, lake) will be used to estimate evapotranspiration. Water in the soil will be measured with shallow wells (less than a metre deep) and soil moisture sensors. Permafrost conditions will be measured with thermistor strings located in the ground at representative sites and with geophysics (i.e., electrical resistivity tomography) at a hillslope near the camp on Vital Lake. Water samples will be taken at the streamflow sites and analyzed for chemistry and stable isotopes. Field observations will be made remotely throughout the year by using dataloggers at all of these locations. Beyond submitting annual reports to the Aurora Research Institute, it is the investigator's intention to continue to discuss with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Tlicho Government and North Slave Metis Alliance the aspects of the research that provide for synergies between the investigator's research goals and issues of importance to these groups. An inability to travel to the NWT over the last couple of years hindered burgeoning relationships present before 2020. We have made good progress over the last year by 1) presenting progress at a summer 2024 research forum organized by the Tlicho government; 2) holding a community meeting in January 2025 with the North Slave Metis Alliance associated with snow surveying training; and 3) participating in environmental monitoring training with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation in January 2025 at which we also discussed research activities at the Baker Creek Research Watershed. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from: April 30 - December 31, 2025