Ramping Event on October 29, 2025
On October 29, 2025, Yukon Energy crews removed the I-beams at the Whitehorse Rapids Generating Station. The I-beams hold the fish screens that help to keep fish away from the turbines at the dam. They need to be removed before each winter, so they are not damaged by ice build-up. To do this work safely, we needed to reduce downstream flows gradually by following our ramping protocol. As part of testing and monitoring the protocol, fish salvage crews were stationed along the river at sensitive sites downstream of the dam. During the ramping event, approximately 400 fish were salvaged and nine fish died. We’ve reported the event to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Over the past year, Yukon Energy has been working with the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Kwanlin Dün First Nation, Carcross/Tagish First Nation and the Government of Yukon to test, monitor and adjust the ramping protocol. When we understand the cause(s) of yesterday’s ramping event, we’ll update the protocol to avoid fish stranding in the future. While this is not the outcome we wanted, we are committed to applying these lessons learned to improve future maintenance activities and minimize impacts on fish. A third party is reviewing yesterday’s activities and will provide a report in a few months that outlines their findings. In the meantime, we will be meeting with the Nations to understand their feedback, share findings, and ultimately make improvements to the process.