Hydrology

Hydrology is the study of water; its properties, distribution and circulation, on and below the earth's surface, and in the atmosphere.

Hydrology Section staff:

• carry out environmental impact assessments and water licence reviews of water use applications, and monitoring the compliance of water use licences;

• provide estimates of peak and low flows for the design and operation of hydraulic structures such as highway stream crossings, flood protection works and water supply reservoirs;

• operate the Yukon Territory flow forecasting and monitoring program including preparing the Snow Survey Bulletin and Water Supply Forecast;

• provide estimates of the magnitude and timing of peak streamflow and water level for flood prone communities for the purpose of allowing sufficient lead time for the implementation of emergency measures;

• provide general hydrologic services to the public, and, inter and intra departmental agencies; and,

• monitor climate change impacts.

Carrying out this work requires hydrometeorological data obtained through the operation of hydrometric, groundwater, snow course and meteorological networks, as well as coordinating research activities at the integrated Wolf Creek Research Watershed, which is required for model and methodology development and calibration.

Hydrology staff represent the territory on several inter-jurisdictional working groups and national and international bodies to exchange information and knowledge on water management issues, hydrometeorology and climate change. These include:

• Yukon Disaster Committee
• Mackenzie River Basin Board
• National Hydrometric Monitoring Program Coordinating Committee
• Federal-Provincial Groundwater Committee
• International Hydrological Program Working Group on Northern Research Basins
• Northern Forum

You may find the following reports useful:

Yukon Snow Survey & Water Supply Forecast April 2008 (PDF 3.1MB)

1975-2004 Report Hydrometric Resources (PDF 3.6 MB)

Summary of Yukon Water Wells (PDF 260 KB)