Assessing the fate of returning upper Yukon River Chinook salmon

育空能源公司是育空发展公司的一家国有子公司，是育空地区的主要电力发电机。Whitehorse Hydro Plant （WHP）是他们最大的设施，位于Whitehorse的育空河上。一群奇努克鲑鱼（Oncorhynchus tshawytscha）在北美鲑鱼中迁徙最长的一次（超过3000公里）后，在WHP上游产卵。1959年安装了一个鱼梯，为鲑鱼提供了上游栖息地。育空能源**致力于减少其设施对环境的影响，这对育空**社区和原住民至关重要。长期以来，人们一直担心湿地计划对奇努克鲑鱼的影响。对于潜在的限制因素，如吸引效率（即接近梯子的鱼进入梯子的比例）、通过后的存活率以及涡轮机在外洄游过程中对幼鱼和鱼苗的影响，研究很少。与**利益相关者和卡尔顿大学合作开展这项研究提供了增加客观性和透明度的机会，并**解决了一个长期存在的问题，这对育空能源维持其与**社区和第一民族的社会契约至关重要，并将为育空能源提供科学知识，为他们与监管机构的互动提供信息。这个项目有两个目标；追踪大马哈鱼在白马急流鱼梯经过时的活动，并评估鱼梯的吸引力和入口效率。**这项研究将为育空能源公司的鱼梯运营提供信息，并与利益相关者和监管机构讨论该设施对环境的影响。**

Yukon Energy is a publicly owned subsidiary of the Yukon Development Corporation, and is the primary**electrical energy generator in Yukon. The Whitehorse Hydro Plant (WHP) is their largest facility, and is**located on the Yukon River in Whitehorse. A population of Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)**spawns upstream of the WHP after making one of the longest migrations of any salmon in North America (over**3000 km). A fish ladder was installed in 1959, providing salmon access to upstream habitat. Yukon Energy**works to minimize the environmental impacts of their facilities, which is of high importance to the Yukon**community and First Nations. There have been longstanding concerns about the effects of the WHP on**Chinook Salmon. Only limited research has been conducted on potential limiting factors such as attraction**efficiency (i.e., the proportion of fish approaching the ladder that enter it), post-passage survival, and the**effects of turbines on smolt and fry during outmigration. Conducting this research in partnership with**stakeholders and Carleton University provides opportunities to increase objectivity and transparency and**address a long-standing issue that is essential for Yukon Energy to maintain its social contract with the**community and First Nations, and will provide Yukon Energy with scientific knowledge that informs their**interactions with regulators. This project has two goals; to track the movement of Chinook Salmon following**passage of the Whitehorse Rapids Fishladder, and to assess the attraction and entrance efficiency of the ladder.**This research will inform Yukon Energy's operation of the fish ladder, and discussions with stakeholders and**regulators about the effects of the facility on the environment.**