The Governments of Northwest Territories and Canada collaborate on water quality monitoring in Alberta and the NWT

The Governments of Northwest Territories (GNWT) and Canada have resumed long-term water quality monitoring at two key sites in northern Alberta and two sites in the Northwest Territories (NWT). This collaboration reflects the ongoing commitment by both governments to conduct important water quality monitoring at long-term monitoring stations. The quality of water is important for NWT residents and for the sustainability of the Mackenzie River Basin.

Long-term monitoring provides a record of changes over time, and will help detect differences and trends in water quality flowing from Alberta into the NWT. The collaboration between governments will allow for monitoring to resume in Alberta on the Peace River at Peace Point and the Slave River at Fitzgerald. Within the NWT, monitoring will resume at ECCC’s long-term water quality monitoring sites on the Hay River near the Alberta-NWT border and on the Slave River Above the Mouth. Provincial monitoring in Alberta has already resumed, as has long-term federal monitoring at important sites on the Athabasca River. Water quality monitoring in the NWT has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with only slight delay.

Water samples collected will be analyzed at Taiga Environmental Laboratories in Yellowknife and will also be distributed to Government of Canada-designated laboratories for further analysis.

Quotes

“As the ultimate downstream jurisdiction in the Mackenzie River Basin, the Northwest Territories relies on a network of long-term monitoring sites to detect changes in the water and potential impacts from activities upstream. Working with Environment and Climate

Change Canada to resume monitoring at these four important sites will help us answer residents’ questions about the health of the water flowing across our border, and help ensure the waters of the Northwest Territories remain clean, abundant and productive for all time.”

- Shane Thompson, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

“Canada’s freshwater is one of our most precious natural resources and it deserves protection for present and future generations. Our Government is committed to working with other orders of government to achieve that goal.”

- Michael V. McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories

Quick facts

In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ECCC enacted its Business Continuity Plan in an effort to prioritize the health and safety of the Department’s workforce.
Water quality monitoring officers continue to monitor the situation in collaboration with Northwest Territories water quality experts. Resumption of field activities in the region by ECCC is scheduled in September. In the meantime, collaboration with the Northwest Territories has allowed for enhanced water monitoring on important transboundary rivers.
Water levels across the Mackenzie River Basin have been among the highest on record in 2020. This is primarily due to high precipitation throughout the basin (both rain and snow melt).
Rising and sustained high water levels are expected to have a temporary impact on water quality, as particles along the riverbeds and banks as well as in flooded areas are carried downstream.
Results will be released on the Environment and Natural Resources website as they become available.

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The Governments of Northwest Territories and Canada collaborate on water quality monitoring in Alberta and the NWT