Yukon study to look at impacts of climate change on river flow and energy generation

A three-year, $1 millionstudy in the Yukon will investigate how a changing climate could impact future hydro power generation.

YukonCollege'sNorthernClimateExChangehas partnered withYukon Energy and a graduate school at the University of Quebec to studythe Mayo andAishihikrivers, both of which have hydro facilities on them.

"There was a concern around whatcouldclimate change mean for our hydro potential," saysAndrewHall, president and CEO of Yukon Energy, noting about 98 per cent of the territory's electricitycomes from hydro power.

Hall saysYukon Energy plans ahead 20 years.

"If the studies were to conclude that we were seeing major changes in ourhydroresourceswe could accommodate oraccount for those."

Similar study shows river flows are increasing

Researchers will look at how changes in temperature, snow, rain and permafrost may impact each river in the future.

BrianHorton, project coordinator with Northern ClimateExChange, sayscomputermodelling will be used to understandrivers and the timing of when water will arrive in lakes and rivers. He says the University of Quebec bringsthattechnical experience to the table.

"Where we know that there are big gaps in past observations,we'll be going out to collect new weather information and merge that all together in the computermodellingenvironment."

The project is primarily taking place on the traditional territory of theNa-Cho Nyak Dun and Champagne AisihikFirst Nation.Hortonsaid local input will also be a component of the study.

Asimilar study, looking at theamount of snow, rain and glacier melt contributing to the flow of the Yukon River, wrapped up in the spring. Itfound river flows are increasing, particularly in the fall and winter.

Horton says it's too early to know what the study of theMayo and Aishihikbasins will yield.

Funding for the project comes from grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada as well as funding and in-kind support from Yukon Energy.

The study will conclude in late 2019.