Characterizing hydrological processes in the headwater region of the Yukon River: Impacts on discharge and implications for hydroelectric security

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Power demands in Yukon are largely met through hydroelectric generation in Whitehorse, and thus runoff from the headwaters of the Yukon River (YR) represents an important territorial resource. Sound water management and planning is required to ensure future hydroelectric security, but there is currently significant uncertainty regarding the response of the river's flow to climate change. This is due to a lack of meteorological data and direct observations at high elevations where most of the runoff is produced, poor understanding of the role of snowmelt and glacier storage in YR discharge, and a lack of predictive tools for assessing changes in runoff in response to climate variability. To address this knowledge gap, Yukon College, Yukon Geological Survey, and Yukon Energy Corporation (YEC) propose to conduct a 3-year research project that will involve (1) installation of automated weather/snowpack monitoring stations at three locations in the upper YR watershed (complementing two existing stations already established by the the project team); (2) field and modeling studies of the current form, flow dynamics, and mass balance characteristics of Llewellyn Glacier, BC, and its potential responses to future climate variability; and (3) the development of a predictive regional hydrological model that will operate at various timescales. Outcomes from this project will establish appropriate monitoring networks and develop predictive tools for YEC, that will form the basis of climate-related risk assessment and management strategies. These tools will allow YEC to operate hydropower facilities more efficiently under various demand scenarios, which is of key economic importance for YEC and Yukon, where a growing resource-based economy demands secure power resources. Additionally, this project will involve students from Yukon College, thus contributing to the development of highly qualified personnel with valuable experience in Canada's North. Ultimately, the research project outlined here will improve our understanding of, and preparedness for, the impacts of climate change in northern Canada, which is of vital importance for continued economic prosperity in Yukon, and in Canada's North.