CIMP226 - Surface Water Quality Data

Streamflow has increased across Taiga Plains catchments over the last 50 years, but the rates and patterns of change vary. Since streamflow is the result of all inputs and outputs from a catchment, it can be used to understand the cumulative impacts of climate change, including changes to precipitation, permafrost thaw, and wildfire. To understand the drivers behind changing river flows seen across the Taiga Plains, we worked with Tlicho Environmental Monitors and Dehcho Guardians to collect water chemistry and water isotopes from groundwater and surface water. Samples were typically collected in high flow (June) and low flow months (August-Oct) to capture seasonal variability. This data was combined with physical and thermal permafrost measurements, electrical resistivity tomography, and climate monitoring (temperature and precipitation). This first set of data was collected through CIMP226 (2022-2025) and will be continued through CIMP 249 (2024-2027) at Scotty Creek and CIMP255 (2025-2028) in the La Martre River watershed.