|
Rivers across Yukon Territory and other cold environments are turning orange and white. This website serves as a portal to share information about this phenomenon in Yukon and raise collective awareness.
|
What is happening and what are we doing?
|
Permafrost thaw is exposing previously frozen, sulfide-bearing ground to liquid water and oxygen. This triggers reactions that generate acidity and mobilize toxic metals. Farther downstream, as acidity is diluted and neutralized, dissolved metals precipitate into suspended particles that discolor the water. These changes threaten water quality and food security.
|
We are integrating stream hydrology, hydrochemistry, catchment geology, permafrost science, and paleolimnology to develop a mechanistic understanding of the climatic, hydrological, and geochemical drivers of stream acidification in Yukon. Together with our partners, we aim to build a framework to identify streams most susceptible to “rusting” and to inform watershed management policy in Canada.
|
How widespread is this phenomenon? |
|
What can I do? |
|
This phenomenon is widespread in Yukon Territory and has also been observed in Alaska and other cold regions. Preliminary satellite mapping has identified over 130 streams with colour changes across a 60,000 km² area in the headwaters of the Peel River. Rusting streams have also been reported near Mayo and in the Macmillan Pass area.
|
|
Several organizations are now sharing information and updates on changing streams including the Yukon Government, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government, Friends of the Dempster Country and university researchers. We hope that this website will serve as a public portal for information sharing. Please feel free to share information and observations with local stewardship or research groups.
|