Zooplankton and ichthyoplankton samples from Lake Melville, Labrador

By modifying the seasonal runoff pattern of the Churchill River, in Labrador, the operation of the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric dam could impact estuarine rainbow smelt, trout and salmon downstream. This research project seeks to understand how the operation of the Muskrat Falls dam will modify fish ecology in the 3,000 km2 Lake Melville subarctic estuary. Answering this question is critical to fully understand the impacts of this large-scale hydroelectric project on coastal communities in the region. This dataset provides baseline information for science-based management of fisheries in Lake Melville, where five coastal communities rely heavily on food, social and ceremonial fisheries. Zooplankton sampled with bongo nets provide information on the abundance and composition of prey for early life stages of fish. Ultimately, it will contribute to better predict the effects of future dam developments on fish populations in northern Canada.