DOCSLIB.ORG

ON the PERIPHERY of the KLONDIKE GOLO RUSH: CANYON CITY, an ARCHAEOLOGICAL Perspectlve

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
ON the PERIPHERY of the KLONDIKE GOLO RUSH: CANYON CITY, an ARCHAEOLOGICAL Perspectlve ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE KLONDIKE GOLO RUSH: CANYON CITY, AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PERSPECTlVE Thomas J. Hammer B.A. (Honours), Simon Fraser University, 1994 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of Archaeology @ Thomas J. Hammer 1999 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY June 1999 All rights resewed. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. National Library Bibliothèque nationale !*I of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wdlington ûttawaON K1AW OnawaON KlAW Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive Licence aiiowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sel1 reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfonn, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neitber the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fkom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. This thesis investigates an Upper Yukon River Klondike Gold Rush site known as Canyon City. Canyon City and other sites like it were integral. but peripheral to the Klondike Gold Rush. This study attempts to integrate the oral. archiva1 and archaeoiogical data to provide insights into the day-to-day life of the resident population at Canyon City during the Klondike Gold Rush, 1897-1900. Over the course of four years, six localities within the former settlement were extensively tested. These include: the West Tent locality, the Canyon Hotel and Saloon, the NWMP Barracks, the Canyon and White Horse Rapids Tramway Co. building, the East Cabin and the Machine/Blacksmith Shop. A total of 17,395 artifacts and 156 faunal specimens were collected during the investigations. lt is argued that the wrnpany structured the inhabitants' day-to-day lives within this single industry tom. This structuring is evident in the settlement characteristics such as the structured settlement layout, the lack of duplication of services, the predorninately male population and the dependence of the residents on the Company for sustenance. Although based on limited data, the settlement also appears ta have been organized socially-the workers and the ovmers. Furtherrnore, the cultural remains and architectural data suggest the general nature of the site was expedient and utilitarian, which not only reflects the logistical problems faced by Klondike era settlements but also the economic motivation of the townsite's owners. ... 111 The abandonment behavior present at Canyon City appears to have largely been determined by company interests. Except for the East Cabin, wtiich burned with much of its contents still intact, the site undervuent planned. permanent abandonment. Since the investigations carried out at Canyon City wre the first of its kind on the Upper Yukon River, it is unknown whether or not Canyon City can be considered a typical settlement in this area. Work is needed at similar settlements along the Upper Yukon to better illuminate their role in the Klondike Gold Rush and their significance in the development of the Yukon. This thesis was made possible by the generous support of the Yukon Heritage Branch, Government of Yukon. The Canyon City Archaeology Project was a joint endeavor of the Yukon Heritage Branch, Department of Tourism, and the Kwanlin Dün First Nation with the support of the MacBrîde Museum and Yukon Conservation Society. I would like to thank Jeff Hunston. Director of Yukon Heritage Branch, for giving me the opportunity to work at the site over a period of four years. I greatly appreciate the continued support from Heritage Branch Archaeologists Ruth Gotthardt and Greg Hare. who provided me with insights, inspiration and edited parts of this thesis several times. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the rest of the staff of Heritage Branch for their assistance. Thanks for the rnap Brent. I am also grateful to my senior supervisor. Dr. David Burley, for his patience and rigorous editing. I would also like to thank Dr. Jack Nance and Dr. Olga Klimko for their comments on my thesis project. 1 am grateful for the financial support for the Department of Archaeology, SFU, for awarding me a Graduate Fellowship and a Teaching Assistant position. Further financial support was provided by the Yukon Heritage Branch, the Canada Employrnent Challenge Program. the Yukon Government Student Training and Employrnent Program, the Yukon Foundation, and DIAND Northern Scientific Training Program. I extend thanks to John Hatch, John Scott and Lawrence Cyr for sharing their knowledge about the old days. Donna Hagen and Sweeney v Scurvey, from the Kwanlin Dun First Nation provided the understanding of the traditional land use of the site through their oral history work. Valuable contributions wre made by elders Mrs. May Hume, Mrs. Julie Joe. Mrs. Lucy Wren, Mrs. Mary James, Jimmy G. Smith, Edwin Scurvey, EMrdGordon. Mrs. Virginia Vallevand, John Suits, Louie Smith, Rose Charlie and Ronald Bill. The project owes its success to the hard work of the field crew and site interpreters. These include: Ty Heffner, vvho also did the faunal work. Megan Williams and Sarah Berquist (Heritage Branch STEP students); Azalea Joe, Henry Taylor, Corey Pope, John Yaklin: Marilee Smarch, Charlie O'Brien. and Michael Smith of Kwanlin Dün; Own Williams, Jacob Jirousek, Hillary Walkley, Sara Neilsen, Sara Bryce, Greg Kubica. Georgina Nicioux. Wilmonica VanBibber, Loic Markley and Hannah Hickling of the Yukon Conservation Society; Andrea Hoyt, Rachel Pugh and Christie Colx of the MacBride Museum. I wouid also like to acknowiedge the Yukon Underwater Divers -ociationJs efforts. Doug Davidge. and Perry Diamond conducted the underwater survey at Canyon City. Thanks also go out to the support and assistance of the Yukon Archives, MacBride Museum; Chief Lena Johns, Chef Joe Jack, Pat Joe. Patty Ann Finlay and Jackie Shortie of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation. David Neufeld of Parks Canada, Flo Whyard and Helene Dobrowolsky openiy shared their knowiedge and resources with me on Canyon City. Mrs. Whyard provided the NWMP log book for Canyon City dated 1899-1900. An important and productive aspect of the project was the enthusiasm of the many volunteers who participated in the Canyon City excavations. Thanks also to the thousands of visitors who took the time to visit Canyon City. Finally, I owe the wrnpletion of this thesis to my family and closest friends. My wife Myra's encouragement, support and patience over the years kept me going and sane. Afthough unknowingly my children, Melissa and Nolan, provided me with much inspiration. And of course, thanks to Jim Slater and Ruth Whitney. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS APPROVAL II .-. ABSTRACT III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v TABLE OF CONTENTS viii LIST OF TABLES X LlST OF FIGURES CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION CHAPTER WO: CANYON CITY IN CONTEXT SITE LOCATIONAND GEOGRAPHICCONTEXT HISTORICAL OVERVIONOF CANYONCITY GOLDRUSH HISTORY- 1800-1 899/1900 Pre-Gold Rush Era Gold Rush Era Canyon City PoST GOLDRUSH ERA - 1900 - PRESENT CHAPTER THREE: FIELDWORK, RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY PREVIOUS WORKAT CANYON CITY ARCHAEOL~GICAL FIELDMETHOOOLOGY DOCUMENTARYRESEARCH METHODOLOGY ARTIFACT ANALYSE MEHTODOLOGY CHAPTER FOUR: HlSTORlC FEATURES AT CANYON ClTV CANYON CITY TOWNSITE WEST TENTLOCALITV: FEATURES CANYON HOTELAND SALOON: FEATURES NORTH-WESTMOUNTED POLICE BARRACKS: FEATURES CANYONAND WHITE HORSERAPIDS COMPANY TRAMWAYOFFICE: FEATURES THE EASTCABIN: FEATURES THE MACHINE/~LACKSMITHSHOP: FEATURES SUMMARY CHAPTER 5: CANYON CITY HlSTORlC ARTIFACT ASSEMBiAGE WEST TENTLOCALITY: ARTIFACTASSEMBLAGE Summary CANYONHOTEL AND SALOON:ARTIFACT ASSEMBLAGE Summary NORTH-WESTMOUNTEO POLICE BARRACKSARTIFACT ASSEMBLAGE Summary CANYONAND WHITE HORSE RAPIDS TRAMWAYOFFICE: ARTIFACT ASSEMBLAGE Summary EASTCABI N: ARTIFACTASSEMBLAGE Summary MACHINE/BLACKSMITHSHOP: ARTIFACTASSEMBLAGE Summary CHAPTER 6: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS SITE CHARACTERISTICS SETLEMENT SUBSISTENCE ABANDONMENT CONCLUSION REFERENCES ClTED Table 1. Table showing the historic features tested during the archaeological investigations at Canyon City including number of units, area excavated and approximate sampie size. Table 2. Functional groups used in the dassification of the Canyon City Historic Artifact assemblage and their associated artifact types. Table 3. Table of features identified at Canyon City and accompanying identifications. Table 4. Table showing artifact counts and each locality's relative contribution to the histonc artifact assemblage from Canyon City. Table 5. West Tent locality artifact functional groups and counts. Table 6. Faunal rernains coliected from the West Tent locality. Table 7. Canyon Hotel and Saloon artifact functional groups and counts. Table 8. NWMP Barracks artifact functional groups and counts. Table 9. Canyon and White Horse Rapids Tramway Office artifact functional groups and counts. Table 10. East Cabin artifad functional groups and counts. Table 11. East Cabin faunal remains.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pdf Background Report
    BACKGROUND REPORT December 2015 Acknowledgments Thanks to all those Tagish residents, property owners, Carcross/Tagish First Nation citizens, and others who gave their time and energy to this project, including: Planning Committee Members YG Staff Adam Winters Jeff Bond Bill Barrett Sr. Bernie Cross Martin Allen Lars Jessup Patrick James Tomoko Hagio Paul Dabbs David Murray Vicky Hancock Tess McLeod Diane Nikitiuk GC/TFN Staff and Contractors Doris Dreyer Frank James Colleen James Elder Art Johns Tami Grantham Corey Edzerza Tagish Local Area Plan – Background Report Contents Contents ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Tagish Local Area Planning Process .............................................................................................................. 2 2. History of the Tagish Area .............................................................................................................................. 4 3. Demographics ................................................................................................................................................. 8 4. Vision, Values, and Guiding Principles .........................................................................................................10 5. Governance ..................................................................................................................................................11 6. Environment
    [Show full text]
  • Southern Lakes Enhanced St C T Storage Concept
    Southern Lakes Enhanced Storage C oncept January 2012 Overview This presentation provides an overview of the Southern Lakes Enhanced Storage Concept. This concept generally consisconsiststs of amending Yukon Energy’s water license for regulating water levels in Marsh Lake (and Tagish & Bennett Lakes) during fall and winter months. Presentation Overview 1. Existing Conditions 2. PPdChroposed Change Southern Lakes Enhanced Storage Concept Producing Electricity at Whitehorse Rapids > Built in 1958, Whitehorse Rapids Hydroelectric Generating Station is the Yukon’s largest renewable energy facility. > Hydropower is by far the most sustainable & resilient of all renewable energy technologies. > Whitehorse currently produces 240 GWh/yr, or 60% of the Yukon ’s renewable energy. > Whitehorse has an installed generating capacity of 40MW, but in winter months there is only enough water flow to produce 25 MW on average. > In summer months, there is excess water, which is “spilled” 100 GWh/yr is the energy required to power 8,000 Yukon homes. Whitehorse hydro plant can power 19,000 Yukon homes! Southern Lakes Enhanced Storage – Existing Conditions 600 Yukon River Flow & 90 Hydropower Generation 80 500 Summer: surplus flow is spilled & not 70 used for electricity 400 generation Winter: insufficient 60 /s) flow ‐ generating 3 capacity under‐utilized (m 50 300 Flow 40 River W) nn 200 MM 30 ( Yuko 20 100 neration Installed generating ee G capacity at Whitehorse: 10 Average Flow in Yukon River 40 MW ‐ requires 252 m3/s 0 0 Power J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D Southern Lakes Enhanced Storage – Existing Conditions Water for Whitehorse Whitehorse Hydro Hydro comes from the Southern Lakes watershed Lewes Control Structure > Marsh, Tagish & Bennett Lakes are Marsh Lake hyyydraulically connected.
    [Show full text]
  • PUBLIC FLOOD UPDATE July 30, 2021 at 4:00 P.M
    PUBLIC FLOOD UPDATE July 30, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. The Emergency Measures Organization and Water Resources Branch are working closely to monitor water levels across the Yukon and provide accurate information to communities. There are evacuation alerts in effect for: areas of Lake Laberge, Tagish, Marsh Lake and Lewes River Road An evacuation order is in effect for: a property on Shallow Bay Road at Lake Laberge For more details about these evacuation alerts or orders, visit Yukon.ca/emergencies The following advisories are in effect: Flood warning for Southern Lakes is being maintained (issued July 27) Flood warning for Lake Laberge is being maintained (issued July 27) High streamflow advisory for Yukon River at Whitehorse is being maintained (issued July 23) Boil water advisory for residents of Southern Lakes, Lake Laberge, Kusawa Lake and Takhini River areas (issued July 7) Boil water advisory for residents of Army Beach and South M’Clintock with private wells or underground water storage tanks (issued July 7) Boil water advisory for residents of Carmacks with private wells (issued June 25) The following areas are closed: Riverside boardwalks in Carmacks Marsh Lake Recreation Site (Army Beach) including the parking lot, pedestrian bridge and tenting sites Conrad Historic Site Parts of the Marsh Lake campground, including sites 10 to 15 Tagish Campground Extended hours at Waste Management Facilities: Waste Management Facilities are now open 7 days per week in the Southern Lakes and Lake Laberge. The operating hours for specific facilities are: Marsh Lake: Mon-Tue from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm; Wed-Sun from 10:00 a.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Yukon River Heritage an Illustrated Introduction for River Travellers
    Yukon River Heritage An illustrated introduction for river travellers Revised edition © 2013 Government of Yukon, Department of Tourism and Culture ISBN 978-1-55362-654-1 Front cover, top: Men and dog in a boat, ca. 1900. University of Washington Libraries #11633 Front cover, bottom: Mountie Arthur Thornthwaite on Tantalus Butte/Gum Tthi, ca. 1920. YA, Claude and Mary Tidd fonds, #7714 Back cover, top: Chief Isaac (left) and two other Hän men, ca. 1900. YA, AHL collection, #4232 Back cover, background: Gold rush boats on their way to Dawson at the mouth of the Stewart River, 1898. YA, Greenbank collection, 89/19 #14 Back cover, bottom: The Dawson waterfront, 1917. YA, Emil Forrest fonds, 80/60 #590 Please go to www.travelyukon.com for information about planning river trips. Drift Into History An introduction to the heritage of the Yukon River This publication offers a glimpse of some of the heritage sites along the Yukon River. It is intended to give you an idea of the timeless heritage and beauty of one of the world’s great rivers. The booklet is not a comprehensive history The wheelhouse of theS.S. Bailey. and should not be used for YA, H.C. Barley fonds, #5202 navigation purposes. There are books, maps, charts and guides that provide detailed histories or planning and route information. Enjoy your journey. The Yukon River The Yukon River is the fifth longest river in North YA, Eric Hegg fonds, #2783 America. It drains almost 900,000 square kilometres (km), about half of which are in Canada and half in the United States.
    [Show full text]
  • PUBLIC FLOOD UPDATE July 16, 2021 at 1:00 P.M
    PUBLIC FLOOD UPDATE July 16, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. The Emergency Measures Organization and Water Resources Branch are working closely to monitor water levels across the Yukon and provide accurate information to communities. There are evacuation alerts in effect for: areas of Lake Laberge, Tagish, Marsh Lake and the Lewes River Road An evacuation order is in effect for: a property on Shallow Bay Road at Lake Laberge For more details about these evacuation alerts or orders, visit Yukon.ca/emergencies The following advisories are in effect: Flood warning for Southern Lakes (issued July 13) Flood warning for Lake Laberge (issued July 13) Flood watch for Kusawa Lake and Takhini River (issued July 9) High streamflow advisory for Yukon River at Carmacks (issued July 9) High streamflow advisory for Yukon River at Whitehorse (issued July 5) Boil water advisory for residents of Southern Lakes, Lake Laberge, Kusawa Lake and Takhini River areas (issued July 7) Boil water advisory for residents of Army Beach and South M’Clintock with private wells or underground water storage tanks (issued July 7) Boil water advisory for residents of Carmacks with private wells (issued June 25) The following areas are closed: Riverside boardwalks and River Drive in Carmacks Marsh Lake Recreation Site (Army Beach) including the parking lot, pedestrian bridge and tenting sites Conrad Historic Site Parts of the Marsh Lake campground, including sites 10 to 15 Tagish Campground Jackfish Bay Road is open to local traffic only Extended hours at Waste Management Facilities: Waste Management Facilities are now open 7 days per week in the Southern Lakes and Lake Laberge.
    [Show full text]
  • Catalogue of Aquatic ····Resources of the Upper Yukon River Drainage (Whitehorse Area) ~ -1
    .+ Environment Canada Environnement Canada Fisheries Service des peches and Marine Service et des sciences de la mer { \ .'\\~'.,~ " Catalogue of Aquatic ···· Resources of the Upper Yukon River Drainage (Whitehorse Area) R. F. Brown Fisheries and Marine Services M.S. Elson N orthern Natural Resource Services L. W. Steigenberger PAC/T-76- 4 Northern Operations Branch Pacific Reg ion Te chnica l report series PAC/T 76-4 ~ -1 i FOREWORD The north is presently involved in a period of rapid change. Modern transportation methods now permit exploration and development even in the most remote areas. In order to ensure the perpetuation of fishery resources it is essen­ tial that the resource manager attempt to minimize and control the inevitable environmental damage that results from industrial development. Recommendations on environmental protection and resource harvest must be based on biologically sound facts. This report is an information source concerning fish species and their habitat in the upper Yukon River drainage and as such is a tool for resource management. It is one of a series covering the major drainage basins in the Northern British Columbia and Yukon Division that has been assembled for the use of those people involved in fishery management and environmental protec­ tion. The report should be considered as a preliminary documentation of fisheries and related information, and as a basis from which future resource management policy may stem. The aim of habitat protection is to. balance environmental concerns with economic demands. We believe that total environmental destruction does not necessarily accompany industrial progress, and that the concept of multiple use of resources can be safely implemented.
    [Show full text]
  • Yukon Geographical Place Names Board 2016-2017 Annual Report
    Yukon Geographical Place Names Board 2016 – 2017 ANNUAL REPORT Yukon Geographical Place Names Board 2016 – 2017 ANNUAL REPORT 1 The names of places reflect Yukon’s diverse culture, history, and landscape. Names such as Aishihik, Kusuwa and Tuchitua are just a few of the native names found on a modern map of the Yukon. Yukon First Nations named rivers, mountains, lakes and landmarks long before the first non-native explorers and settlers arrived in the territory. Names such as Gyò Cho Chú (Big Salmon River) tell where animals and fish are plentiful. Other names, such as Thechä`l Mäˉn (Sekulman Lake), ‘Stone Scraper for Hides’ describe artifacts, people and events. Today’s Yukon First Nations still remember these names and are working to record them for future generations. Beginning in the nineteenth century, explorers, fur Many of the official names on the Yukon map today traders, and prospectors came to the Yukon to trade were given by non-native settlers who came to the Yukon with native people, search for gold, and explore the vast during the Gold Rush period of the 1890s. In the area landscape, giving their own names to the land. The around Dawson City, Allgold, Bonanza, Eureka, and Danish explorer Vitus Bering was the first non-native to Nogold recall the successes and failures of the miners name a geographical feature in northwest America. Bering who came to the territory during the Klondike Gold had entered the newly formed navy of the Russian tsar Rush. Names such as Carcross (from Caribou Crossing), Peter the Great and in 1724 was appointed to conduct an Fox Lake, and Eagle’s Nest Bluff, testify to the richness expedition to explore the water routes between Siberia and of Yukon’s wildlife resources.
    [Show full text]
  • Yukon River Stream Catalog Informational Manual
    AYK REGION YUKON RIVER ESCAPEMENT REPORT # 16 Yukon River Stream Catalog Informational Manual Prepared by Louis H. Barton March 1982 Contents Preface • • • • • • • • • • o • • • • • • • o • • • • • • • • • • • i i List of Tables •••••••••••••••••• . iii List of Figures • • • • • • • • • • •••• iv Introduction. • . ••••.••••••••••••••••• 1 Area Description. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••••• o o • 1 Methods of Escapement Enumeration •••••• o •••••• o • 2 Fishery Resources • • • • • • • • • • ••••••••••••• 3 Specific Stream Catalog Infonnation •• o •••••• o •••••• 4 Literature Cited. • • • • ~ • • • • • • 6 Listing of Yukon River Drainage Mileages •••••••••••• 7 i Preface This manual is intended for use with the Yukon River Stream .Catalog, a listing of documented salmon spawning escapements from 1953 through 1981. The primary purpose of the stream catalog is presentation of data for the entire Yukon River drainage, including that portion within the Canadian boundary. No attempt has been made to present analysis of data relative to its ultimate or intended use. A description of the area, data collection methods~ and fishery resources is included in this manual only to the extent required for interpretation of data presented in the stream catalog. · Data in the stream catalog are intended to be final; however, revisions will be made as historic records are uncovered~ subsequent data acquisition occurs, or errors are found. It should be emphasized that escapement information in the stream catalog DOES NOT necessarily represent total salmon escapement for any given stream, but rather is an index of abundance. Further. it is imperative that all remarks be carefully read (when they appear) for any given entry to insure proper interpretation of data. ;; List of Tables Table L Comparative Yukon River summer chum salmon aerial escapement surveys, 1974-1981.
    [Show full text]
  • Place Names of the Tagish Region, Southernyukon
    PLACE NAMES OF THE TAGISH REGION, SOUTHERNYUKON Compiled by Mrs. Angela Sidney for the Yukon Native Languages Project Council for Yukon Indians 1980 PLACE-NAIÍES OF THE TAGTSH REGION, SOUTHERN YUKON Compiled by Mrs. Angela Sidney for the i i Yukon Native Languages Project Counci.l for Yukon fndians 19 80 L Cover Photo of Angela Sidney by Jim Robb Introduction This booklet has been prepared. to accompany the map Place Names of !þe llagish Region, Southern Yukon, compiled by Mrs. Angela Sidney. Mrs. Sidney is well known in the southern Yukon as a narrator of traditional stori-es and as a teacher of Tagish and TIJ-ngit customs. Born in L902, she gre\^¡ up speaking both Tagish and Tlingit languages and is one of the last remaining speakers of the Tagish Athapaskan language. She considers it important t,o maintain the traditions she learned as a child., and, for that reason she has become invoLved in a number of projects during the past few years preparing booklets of stories, teaching traditional dances and songs to young people, performing as the singer with the Carcross Indian dancers, working with teachers in the Carcross school. During the summer of 1980, Mrs. Sidney and I travelled throughout the southern Yukon by car, boat and train making a record of place names she remembers and traditions associated with those places. We drove along roads bordering the lakes the Alaska Highway, Tagish road, Atlin road, Skagway road, Carcross road. We travelled by boat along Tagish Lake and Marsh Lake, well south of the Yukon-British Columbia border, and by train 2 along Bennett Lake.
    [Show full text]
  • Marsh Lake Storage Project – Fact Sheet
    Marsh Lake Storage Project – Fact Sheet History of Existing Infrastructures Whitehorse Rapids Generating Station (WRGS) Ä Built by National Canada Power Commission in 1958 with 2 turbines; 3rd turbine added in 1969; 4th turbine in 1984 Ä Purpose of Whitehorse Hydro Plant is to generate electricity year-round using renewable energy. It is the largest hydro facility in the Yukon Ä Total capacity: 40 MW; reduced in winter to ~24 MW as flow in Yukon River drops. Ä Annual Generation averages 246 GWh/yr – approximately 60% of the total hydro generation in the Yukon . Ä Summer Generation represents ~ 92% of the total generation in the Yukon; in winter this drops to approximately 50% of the total generation Ä Fish Ladder: Built in June 1959 following the original construction of the Whitehorse Rapids dam. Usually open by mid-June (when spill occurs) through to September after Chinook salmon have completed upstream migration Ä Fish Hatchery: Built in 1984 to offset the potential loss of fish due to turbine mortality. In 1976, the water license for the 4th turbine was approved, conditional upon the provision of incubation boxes to protect salmon in the Yukon River from adverse conditions created by the power plant. Ultimately, the fish hatchery was built and became operational in 1984. Lewes Dam Ä Originally built in 1899 to flush out ice for river navigation; the structure was rebuilt several times, most recently in 1976 Ä Purpose of Lewes Dam is to regulate the flows out of Marsh Lake to increase the water available for winter generation at the Whitehorse Rapids Generating Station Ä Current structure has 30 gates used to regulate flow from Marsh Lake, 4 are automated Ä Structure includes a boat lock and a fishway which have to be operational Schematic drawings and pictures showing the components of the two facilities are presented in the next pages.
    [Show full text]
  • Yukon Ecosystem and Landscape Classification and Mapping
    Yukon Ecological and Landscape Classification and Mapping Guidelines VERSION 1.0 Government Yukon Ecological and Landscape Classification and Mapping Guidelines VERSION 1.0 ISBN: 978-1-55362-767-8 Citation Environment Yukon. 2016. Flynn, N. and Francis. S., editors. Yukon Ecological and Landscape Classification and Mapping Guidelines. Version 1.0. Whitehorse (YT): Department of Environment, Government of Yukon. Photos and illustrations are copyrighted to the Government of Yukon unless otherwise noted and should not be reproduced for individual benefit. Please contact the photographer or institution directly (credit is along the side of the image). Notification of errors or omissions should be directed to the ELC Coordinator. Editors’ affiliation Nadele Flynn, Coordinator, Ecological and Landscape Classification Program, Fish and Wildlife Branch, Department of Environment, Government of Yukon Whitehorse, Yukon Shawn Francis, S. Francis Consulting Inc. Drumheller, Alberta Copies of this report, including a digital version, are available: Ecological and Landscape Classification (ELC) Program Fish and Wildlife Branch, Department of Environment, Government of Yukon Box 2703 (V-5), Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 867-667-3081 [email protected] For more information on the ELC program and other publications, visit www.env.gov.yk.ca/elc. © 2016 Government of Yukon When using information from this report, please cite fully and correctly. Front cover photo: Overview of McLean Creek, a small tributary of the Yukon River, representative of the Boreal Low Southern Lakes subzone (BOLsl), Whitehorse, Yukon (photo by H. Ashthorn). © Government of Yukon ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Over the years, the development of Yukon ELC program has greatly benefited by the expertise of several key individuals and organizations.
    [Show full text]
  • Marsh Lake Winter Storage Concept
    Marsh Lake Winter Storage Concept Dec. 2010 Keeping You Up to Date When Yukon Energy began our research into the possibility of enhanced winter storage on Marsh Lake, we promised to share the results of our studies with the affected First Nation governments, the Atlin and Tagish Local Advisory Councils, other stakeholders and local residents. This newsletter gives a summary of what we’ve learned so far, what we still need to find out, and what the next steps are in this process. We are still a long way from knowing whether this is a viable project. We ask that you keep an open mind until we complete all the studies and analyze the data. We are committed to regular and meaningful discussions with you and we will take all your concerns seriously. Background Yukon’s energy demands are quickly outgrowing our clean energy supply. If we cannot meet the rising energy demands with our renewable generating capacity, we will be forced to burn diesel, which is expensive and harmful to the environment. On a global basis, climate change is an issue for everyone, particularly Northerners. We feel it is our obligation to ensure, as much as possible, that the power we produce is from clean, renewable sources. Yukon Energy is looking at all possible sources of renewable energy, including geo-thermal, wind, waste-to-energy, Demand Side Management South M’Clintock (energy conservation) and the enhancement of our existing hydro assets. We are looking at three enhancement concepts: one on the Gladstone Lakes that would provide more water for our Aishihik plant, one on Atlin Lake, and one on Marsh Lake.
    [Show full text]