Southern Lakes Storage Enhancement Concept Overview of Baseline Studies

Takhini River River Instream flow – Chinook Spawning & Passage Assessment – Ticks indicate habitat characterization transects Wetland Assessment – M’Clintock R. - fish & fish habitat, vegetation

Groundwater – First Nation & Stakeholder 9 monitoring wells in S. M’Clintock & Engagement – Kwanlin Dun and Ta’an Wetland Mapping, Amphibian & Rare Army Beach + property surveys First Nations & other stakeholder groups Plant Surveys – Lewes R. wetlands

Whitehorse Rapids Ice Surveys – Marsh L. Generating Station

Yukon Wetland Connectivity Assessment– Six wetland connected to Yukon R. Lewes Dam Structural & Geotechnical Assessment

Geomorphology (Erosion) Studies – • N. M’Clintock & Army Beach • Alaska Highway Ice Surveys – Yukon R. • M’Clintock Place

Wetland Assessment – Lewes R. marsh (3 sites) - fish & fish habitat, vegetation Groundwater –  5 monitoring wells at Old Constabulary Geomorphology (Erosion) Studies – + property surveys N. M’Clintock & Army Beach Community Engagement – Marsh Lake Community Aquatic Characterization – Lake Trout Spawning Survey –  water quality, benthics, limnology, etc. Marsh L.  Geomorphology (Erosion) Studies – Marsh L.  Marsh Lake Marina, Judas Creek Wetland Mapping, Amphibian & Rare  Plant Surveys – Monkey Cr. wetland  Wetland Assessment – Judas Cr.– fish & fish habitat, vegetation Freshwater Fish Surveys – 8 tributaries on Marsh Lake

Wetland Assessment – Wetland Mapping, Amphibian & Rare Tagish R.– fish & fish habitat, vegetation Plant Surveys – Tagish River wetland

Wetland Assessment – Groundwater – Nares L. – fish & fish habitat, vegetation Tagish 6 monitoring wells at Tagish & California Beach + property surveys

Wetland Mapping, Amphibian & Rare Plant Surveys – wetland Geomorphology (Erosion) Studies – Community & Stakeholder • Tagish River Engagement – Tagish Community • California Beach & Taku Subdivision & Renewable Resource Council First Nation Engagement – /Tagish First Nation  Ice Surveys – Tagish R. Aquatic Characterization – Bennett L.: water quality, benthics, limnology, etc. Carcross   Land Tenure Inventory Freshwater Fish Surveys –  Tagish L. 6 tributaries on

Ice Surveys – Bennett L. Lake Trout Spawning Bennett L. Characterization– Aquatic Characterization –  Bove Island & Conrad Tagish L.: water quality, benthics, limnology, etc. Geomorphology (Erosion)  Studies – White Pass Railway

 Lake Trout Spawning Characterization–  Scottie Is.

Freshwater Fish Surveys – Aquatic Characterization – 5 tributaries on Windy Arm Taku Arm: water quality, benthics, limnology, etc. Aquatic Characterization – Windy Arm: water quality, benthics, limnology, etc.

Ungulate Ice Usage Surveys – Shoreline survey extent

Geomorphology (Erosion) Studies – Shoreline reconnaissance survey

Waterfowl and Riparian Bird Surveys – Lake Trout Spawning Characterization– Shoreline survey extent Deep Bay

Atlin Preliminary Archeological & Heritage Reconnaissance – Tagish L. shoreline survey extent

Ben-My-Chree Southern Lakes Storage Enhancement Concept Overview of Baseline Studies

Water Resource Engineering, Erosion & Groundwater

Study Description Purpose

1. Southern Lakes A detailed water model of southern lakes This model allows prediction of Hydrology Routing Study including Marsh, Tagish, Bennett, Atlin, Fantail effects on lake level and river – Northwest Hydraulic and Tushi Lakes using US Army Corps of flows from water regulation at Consultants, 2010 Engineer’s HEC RES-Sim model The model Lewes Control Structure. is calibrated to 50 years of historical record.

2. Hydrology Baseline A summary of lake levels, flows and climate This hydrology forms the Report – AECOM, 2011 data in the southern lakes over the last 20 “baseline” conditions from which years. potential project effects will be assessed. 3. Marsh Lake Hydrology Preliminary hydrology modeling results of Initial set of simulated water level Assessment– AECOM, changed Full Supply Level (FSL) at Lewes and river flow changes to be used 2011 Control Structure in initial effects assessment.

4. Lewes Dam Structural Evaluation of the structural stability and To confirm safe and stable long- & Geotechnical foundation stability of the Lewes Control term performance of the control Assessment – AECOM, Structure. Included diving survey, deflection structure at the proposed FSL. 2011* surveying and seepage modeling of the dam foundation. 5. 2010 & 2011 Comprehensive aerial and ground To identify erosion prone areas Geomorphology reconnaissance to map areas of existing and collect necessary data to Assessment – AECOM, 2011* shoreline erosion. Follow-up in 2011 with allow for future assessment of further assessment of ice break-up erosion wave and erosion effects. effects, site specific issues, surveying and bathymetry at erosion prone site (e.g. N. M’Clintock) . Preliminary wave-erosion modeling at select locations. 6. Southern Lakes & Yukon Collection of ice information (thickness, water Characterization and information River Ice Survey – temperature profile) in March and April on gathering on ice conditions for AECOM, 2011 Marsh Lake, Bennett Lake, future assessment of ice cover outlet and . and ice stability.

7. 2009, 2010 & 2011 Shallow groundwater monitoring wells at 8 To establish the shallow Groundwater Monitoring – locations with monthly and continuous groundwater trends in relation to AECOM 2009, 2010, 2011* groundwater level recording lake level fluctuations in the vicinity of low-elevation properties.

8. Marsh Lake Groundwater Elevation surveying of below-ground property To gather preliminary information of Assessment Property improvements (septic fields & crawl spaces) the elevation of property Survey Program – AECOM of low elevation representative properties at improvements with respect to 2011* Army Beach/ South M’Clintock, Old groundwater levels and to allow for Constabulary, Judas Creek and Tagish River. future assessment of groundwater effects on below ground improvements.

* Indicates report in preparation 1 Southern Lakes Storage Enhancement Concept Overview of Baseline Studies

Aquatic Resources

Study Description Purpose 1. Southern Lakes Summary of known information on aquatic To compile existing information on aquatic Historical Data Review – resources in Southern Lakes, including resources in the Southern Lakes and Yukon AECOM, 2010 & 2011 water quality, benthic invertebrates, fish, River to inform project baseline and identify update* fish habitat, etc. Expanded in 2011 to data gaps. include additional fish & fish habitat information & Chinook spawning data.

2. 2010 Aquatic Studies – Conducted limnology, water quality, To characterize the aquatic environment on AECOM, 2011 phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic Marsh, Tagish and Bennett lakes to support the invertebrate sampling on Marsh, Tagish and environmental baseline. Bennett lakes.

3. Wetland Assessments – AECOM, Conducted wetland assessments (including To conduct an ecological assessment of 3 2010 & 2011 water quality, benthic invertebrate, macro- wetlands around Marsh Lake, 3 wetlands in the invertebrates, sediment and vegetation) using Lewes marsh area and 2 wetlands in Nares wetland CABIN protocols. Level and Lake to support the environmental baseline. temperature dataloggers were installed in some of the wetlands. Fish sampling was conducted in some of the wetlands. Detailed bathymetry and topography mapping was also done in Lewes Marsh. Late winter ice and benthic invertebrate sampling was conducted in Lewes Marsh area and Swan Haven (M’Clintock bay) area.

4. Lake Trout Spawning Survey – Conducted reconnaissance of potential lake To gather a further understanding of the AECOM 2011* trout spawning locations in Marsh potential lake trout spawning locations around Lake. Conducted detailed bathymetry of Marsh, Tagish and Bennett lakes for the some known lake trout spawning locations effects assessment. around Tagish Lake. Identified habitat around Tagish and Bennett Lake to identify to potential lake trout spawning habitat via helicopter. 5. Freshwater Fish Survey – Conducted fish surveys of tributaries of To gather additional information on freshwater  AECOM 2011* Marsh, Tagish and Bennett lakes. fish utilization of the tributaries. This will be used to inform the aquatic baseline for the project.

6. Yukon River Instream Model to assess changes in river flow on Collected instream flow data from various flow – Chinook Spawning Chinook spawning habitat & minimum flows for transects on the Yukon River from Lewes River & Passage Assessment – migration. Bridge to the Takhini River. Data collected was T. R. Payne and Assoc. and then modeled to assess changes in river flows AECOM 2010 and follow up on Chinook spawning and in 2011 passage. Verification of the model’s optimal spawning flows was completed by a local fisheries biologist.

7. Wetland Connectivity Assessment – To obtain an understanding of the Assess the hydraulic relationship of 6 wetlands T.R. Payne & Assoc., 2011, additional connection of wetlands of the Yukon River at adjacent to the Yukon River at various river work by AECOM in 2011 various river flows. Wetlands are important flows and levels. Including detailed surveying for fish utilization. and bathymetry of the connections to the river.

* Indicates report in preparation 2 Southern Lakes Storage Enhancement Concept Overview of Baseline Studies

Terrestrial Resources

Study Description Purpose

1. Wetland Mapping – Ardea Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping, (TEM, detailed Mapping and characterization of wetland Biological 2011* vegetation mapping) of Lewes, Tagish River, Nares environment. Allows for future assessment and and Monkey Creek at 1:20,000 scale. wildlife suitability mapping and assessment.

2. Waterfowl and 6 aerial surveys in 2010 of Marsh, Tagish and Bennett Data gap filling to provide additional information Riparian Bird Surveys Lakes to supplement existing bird surveys. Work also of bird usage of the Southern Lakes. Also – Ardea Biological 2011* included review of existing literature (CWS, Ducks mapping of open water in spring from CWS Unlimited, etc.) and ground-based breeding bird historical photo record to determine variability surveys. Summary and mapping of extent of open and extent of open water during spring break- water (and variability) in spring break-up. up.

3. Aquatic Mammal 6 aerial surveys in 2010 of Marsh, Tagish and Bennett Data gap filling to provide additional information Surveys – Ardea Lakes to supplement known information about aquatic of aquatic mammal usage of the Southern Biological 2011* mammals. Included muskrat push-up surveys and Lakes. literature review (trapping records, etc.)

4. Ungulate Surveys – 2 aerial surveys in 2010 of Marsh, Tagish and Bennett To identify where and how ungulates are using Ardea Biological 2011* Lakes to review/confirm moose and caribou usage and crossing the ice. Also assessment of and crossing of ice. Includes review of existing obstructions (ice shelves, etc.) to wildlife literature, collar data, etc. Wetland mapping includes movement. ungulate habitat suitability mapping.

5. Amphibian Survey – Ardea Identification and survey of amphibian presence and Collection of baseline information on Biological 2011* usage in 4 wetland complexes (see Wetland Mapping) amphibians & amphibian habitat for future assessment.

6. Rare Plant Survey – Ardea Identification and survey of rare plant presence in 4 Collection of baseline information on presence Biological 2011* wetland complexes (see Wetland Mapping) and distribution of rare plants for future assessment.

Community Study Description Purpose 1. Marsh Lake Land Tenure Inventory Identification of land tenure adjacent to Marsh, Inventory of land ownership, including – AECOM. 2011 Tagish and Bennett Lakes. government, First Nations and private land holders adjacent to Marsh Lake, Tagish River, Tagish Lake & Bennett Lake

2. Community & FN Engagement – Regular meetings with Marsh Lake and Tagish To regularly inform community, FNs and Yukon Energy, 2010 & 2011 communities, First Nations and other stakeholder stakeholders about the Southern Lakes groups (YCS, Ducks Unlimited, Canadian Wildlife Storage concept, current studies and to Service, Renewable Resource Councils, etc.) identify interests & concerns interests about the project concept, the design and results/outcomes of the baseline studies, the potential effects of the concept, and the mitigation and monitoring that might be required should a project proceed.

3. Preliminary Review known archeological & heritage sites along To identify sites that may be affected by Archeological & Heritage 766 km of Southern Lakes’ shoreline in Yukon and changing lake levels (primarily through Reconnaissance – EcoFor BC. Aerial survey to assess known and potential erosion) and may warrant further site 2011* sites that may be susceptible to erosion. assessment.

* Indicates report in preparation 3