Field Work on the Gladstones
There’s a creek and a chain of four small lakes in the Aishihik area known as the Gladstone system. Normally this region doesn’t see many people. However over the last few weeks a group of scientists has been stationed there gathering information that will help Yukon Energy determine the viability of a potential hydro project. The idea, which Yukon Energy refers to as the Gladstone Diversion Concept, would involve putting in a control structure that would change the direction that the Gladstone Creek and Lakes flow. Instead of all the water going into the Yukon River drainage system as it does now, some of it would flow into Sekulmun and Aishihik Lakes, providing water to produce additional power at our Aishihik hydro plant. It could give Yukon Energy up to an extra 18 gigawatt hours of hydroelectricity annually, or almost five percent of Yukon Energy's current energy production per year (we produce approximately 370 gigawatt hours annually). Yukon Energy is working with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and the Kluane First Nation on this concept (the area is within the traditional territory of the Champagne, Aishihik and Kluane First Nations). But there is much research that needs to be done before we can determine if it’s a viable project. That’s where the scientists come in. They have been doing a number of studies looking at the health of the fish, the types of parasites found in both water systems, and the hydrology (water flows) in the area. Other work includes doing rare plant and amphibian surveys and studying the movement of large animals such as moose, caribou, sheep and bison. Below are photos of some of the summer work being done at Gladstone this year. Photo 1: Stefan Iwasawa from the Centre of Coastal Health and Photo 2: Stefan and Kathy Baynes from the Pacific Biological Station take samples to determine the health of the fish and to learn what parasites are in the water systems. The good news is that early results show the same organisms exist in both systems, so there should not be any significant health concerns with connecting the two water systems. Photo 3: A field crew takes measurements of the water flows.