YUKON SNOW SURVEY BULLETIN & WATER SUPPLY FORECAST

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1 YUKON SNOW SURVEY BULLETIN & WATER SUPPLY FORECAST 1, 2009 Prepared and issued by: Water Resources Branch Environment Yukon

2 PREFACE The Yukon Snow Survey Bulletin and Water Supply Forecast is prepared and issued three times annually - after ch 1, April 1 and 1 - by Environment Yukon s Water Resources Branch. The bulletin provides a summary of winter meteorological and streamflow conditions for Yukon, as well as current snow depth and snow water equivalent observations for 56 locations. This information is used to make projections of total volume runoff for the summer period, and an estimate of peak flow for the main river basins and sub-basins including the: upper and lower Yukon, Pelly, Stewart, Liard, Alsek, Porcupine and Peel Rivers. Information about the bulletin, snowpack conditions or streamflow projections can be obtained by contacting: Jocelyn Joe-Strack Richard owicz Hydrology Technologist Manager, Hydrology (867) (867) jocelyn.joe-strack@gov.yk.ca richard.janowicz@gov.yk.ca NETWORK CHANGES for 2009 There have been no network changes in This bulletin can now be accessed on the web at ISSN X It is recommended that reference to this report be made in the following form: Yukon Snow Survey Bulletin and Water Supply Forecast Water Resources Branch Dept. of Environment Government Of Yukon Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 2

3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Yukon Snow Survey Bulletin and Water Supply Forecast is published three times annually, after ch l, April l, and l, as part of the Yukon Snow Survey Program, by the Water Resources Branch, Department of Environment, Government of Yukon. Other agencies that contribute significantly to the Snow Survey Program by providing data, assistance and information for the bulletin are: Meteorological Service of Canada, Whitehorse Supervisor, Technical Programs Officer in Charge, Water Survey of Canada, Whitehorse. Agencies cooperating with Environment Yukon in the Snow Survey Program are: Client Service and Inspections Branch, Yukon Department of Energy Mines and Resources Information Management and Technology, Yukon Department of Environment B.C. Ministry of Environment, Water Stewardship Division USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Yukon Department of Highways and Public Works Parks Canada The Yukon Energy Corporation 3

4 YUKON TERRITORY SNOWPACK CONDITIONS AND RUNOFF PROJECTION WEATHER April temperatures throughout the Yukon were generally one to two degrees below normal in the south and above normal in the north. Snowfall was below normal everywhere except for the Keno region southeast to Teslin. The heaviest snowfall occurred in the Swift River region of 25.0cm. SNOWPACK The snowpack around the territory was normal to well above normal. All of the southern Yukon is above normal. The region from Pelly Crossing and Faro to Dawson and o is above normal. North of that region is slightly above normal and the Ogilvie River to Eagle Plains stretch was normal. Old Crow was slightly above normal. STREAMFLOW Streamflow conditions within the Territory range from below normal to above normal for 1st. Streamflow during this period represents winter baseflow, which provides an indication of winter groundwater contributions. Break up for the Yukon River at Dawson and the Porcupine River at Old Crow occurred on 4 th and 6 th, respectively. 4

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8 YUKON RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Yukon River Basin range from well above normal in the south to normal near Dawson. Overall conditions are well above normal. UPPER YUKON RIVER SUB-BASIN (SOUTHERN LAKES/WHITEHORSE) Snowpack conditions in the Upper Yukon River watershed are well above normal. Values range from 126 percent of normal Meadow Creek to above percent in Atlin. New records have been set in Atlin and Montana Mountain. An area wide average has been estimated to be 165 percent of normal. UPPER YUKON RIVER SUB-BASIN (SOUTHERN LAKES/WHITEHORSE) MILLIMETERS OF WATER 400 GREATER THAN HISTORICAL M AXIM UM LESS THAN HISTORICAL M INIMUM Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean

9 WHITEHORSE AREA Snowpack conditions in the Whitehorse area are well above normal for 1 st. Values range from 133 percent of normal at Mount McIntyre to above percent at the Whitehorse Airport. A new record was also set at Montana Mountain. An area wide average has been estimated to be 180 percent of normal. MILLIMETERS OF WATER WHITEHORSE AREA GREATER THAN HISTORICAL M AXIM UM LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIM UM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 2009 PERCENT OF NORMAL ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION Whitehorse Oct Dec Feb Apr PRECIP TO DATE 9

10 SNOW PILLOW STATION DATA TAGISH, No: 09AA-SC1 MILLIMETERS OF WATER yr mean SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN LAT 60 O 17' LONG 134 O 11' ELEVATION 1080 metres DRAINAGE YUKON BASIN 10

11 YUKON RIVER AT WHITEHORSE 0.0 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) AVERAGE (75-96)FLOW MEAN MONTHLY FLOW YUKON RIVER and MARSH LAKE The elevation of sh Lake during April was M or 0.309M below normal. The mean discharge of the Yukon River at Whitehorse during April was 82 percent of normal. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are expected to be 115 percent and 110 percent of normal respectively. MARSH LAKE NEAR WHITEHORSE ELEVATION (m) AVERAGE (76-93)ELEVATION MEAN MONTHLY ELEVATION 11

12 PELLY RIVER SUB-BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Pelly River watershed are well above normal. Values of snow water equivalent are above percent. A new 1 st record has been set for the Hoole River. The basin wide average has been estimated to be 184 percent of normal. Mean April streamflow for the watershed was 113 percent of normal as indicated by the Pelly River below Vangorda Creek. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows are both expected to be 125 percent of normal. MILLIMETERS OF WATER PELLY BASIN 300 GREATER THAN HISTORICAL M AXIM UM LESS THAN HISTORICAL M INIM UM Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean

13 SNOW PILLOW STATION DATA MT SHELDON, No: 09BA-SC6 MILLIMETERS OF WATER yr mean SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN LAT 62 O 16' LONG 139 O 12' ELEVATION 900 metres DRAINAGE PELLY BASIN PELLY RIVER BELOW VANGORDA CREEK 0 10 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) AVERAGE (72-96)FLOW MEAN MONTHLY FLOW 13

14 STEWART RIVER SUB-BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Stewart River watershed are normal for 1 st. Values of snow water equivalent range from 0 percent of normal at the o Airport to 145 percent of normal at the Plata Airstrip. The basin wide average has been estimated to be 107 percent of normal. Mean April streamflow for the watershed was percent of normal as indicated by the Stewart River at the Mouth. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are both expected to be 115 percent of normal. MILLIMETERS OF WATER STEWART BASIN 300 GREATER THAN HISTORICAL M AXIM UM LESS THAN HISTORICAL M INIM UM Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION o PERCENT OF NORMAL Oct Dec Feb Apr PRECIP TO DATE 14

15 SNOW PILLOW STATION DATA WITHERS LAKE, No: 09DB-SC1 MILLIMETERS OF WATER yr mean SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN LAT 63 O 59' LONG 132 O 18' ELEVATION 975 metres DRAINAGE STEWART BASIN STEWART RIVER AT THE MOUTH DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) AVERAGE (64-98)FLOW MEAN MONTHLY FLOW 15

16 LOWER YUKON RIVER BASIN ( DAWSON AREA) Snowpack conditions in the Dawson area are slightly below normal for 1 st. Values of snow water equivalent range from 0 percent of normal at Grizzly Creek to 147 percent of normal at King Solomon Dome. An area wide average has been estimated to be 94 percent of normal. MILLIMETERS OF WATER LOWER YUKON BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL M AXIM UM LESS THAN HISTORICAL M INIM UM Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 2009 ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION Dawson PERCENT OF NORMAL Oct Dec Feb Apr PRECIP TO DATE 16

17 LIARD RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions within the Liard River watershed are exceedingly above normal. All snow water equivalents are above percent. New records have been set at Watson Lake Airport, Frances River, Hyland River and Tintina Airport. The basin wide average has been estimated to be 230 percent of normal. Mean April streamflow for the Liard River upstream of Upper Liard was 111 percent of normal. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are expected to be 145 percent and 159 percent of normal respectively. MILLIMETERS OF WATER LIARD BASIN Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses GREATER THAN HISTORICAL M AXIM UM LOWER THAN HISTORICAL M INIM UM Mean 2009 PERCENT OF NORMAL ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION Watson Lake Oct Dec Feb Apr PRECIP TO DATE 17

18 SNOW PILLOW STATION DATA HYLAND RIVER, No: 10AD-SC1 MILLIMETERS OF WATER yr mean Hyland station destroyed by fire June 2002 SEP OCT NOV JAN DEC FEB MAR APR MAY JUN LAT 61 O 31' LONG 128 O 16' ELEVATION 855 metres DRAINAGE LIARD BASIN LIARD RIVER AT UPPER CROSSING DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) AVERAGE (60-96)FLOW MEAN MONTHLY FLOW 18

19 ALSEK RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions within the Alsek River watershed are well above normal for 1 st. Values of snow water equivalent range from 101 percent of normal at Summit Creek to above percent at Alder Creek. The basin wide average has been estimated to be 167 percent of normal. Mean monthly streamflow for April as indicated by the Alsek River above Bates River was 117 percent of normal. The Alsek River is primarily a glacial regime type, which is largely dependent on summer temperatures. Given normal summer meteorological conditions however, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are expected to be 120 and 115 percent of normal respectively. MILLIMETERS OF WATER ALSEK BASIN Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses GREATER THAN HISTORICAL M AXIM UM LESS THAN HISTORICAL M INIM UM Mean

20 ALSEK RIVER ABOVE BATES RIVER 0 10 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) AVERAGE (74-96)FLOW MEAN MONTHLY FLOW 20

21 PEEL RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Peel River watershed are above normal. Values of snow water equivalent range from 84 percent of normal at the Ogilvie River to above percent of normal at the Lower Blackstone River. The basin wide average has been estimated to be 126 percent of normal. Mean monthly streamflow for April as indicated by the Peel River above Canyon Creek station was 95 percent of normal. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are both expected to be percent of normal. MILLIMETERS OF WATER PEEL BASIN 200 GREATER THAN HISTORICAL M AXIM UM LESS THAN HISTORICAL M INIM UM Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 2009 PEEL RIVER ABOVE CANYON CREEK 0 10 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) AVERAGE (62-93)FLOW MEAN MONTHLY FLOW 21

22 PORCUPINE RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Porcupine River watershed are slightly above normal with values of snow water equivalent ranging from 104 percent of normal at Eagle River to 112 percent of normal at Eagle Plains. The basin wide average has been estimated to be 115 percent of normal. Mean April streamflow for the basin as indicated by the Porcupine River near the International Boundary is 92 percent of normal. Porcupine River volume and peak flow forecasts are not available at this time. MILLIMETERS OF WATER PORCUPINE BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL M AXIM UM LESS THAN HISTORICAL M INIM UM Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 2009 PORCUPINE RIVER NEAR INTERNATIONAL BORDER DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) AVERAGE (87-96)FLOW MEAN MONTHLY FLOW 22

23 Drainage Basin and Snow Course For Sample Date: This Year Water Content Name Number Elev Date of Snow Water Last Average Yrs (m) Survey Depth Content Year of (cm) (mm) (mm) (mm) Rec Alsek River Basin Canyon Lake 08AA-SC /28/ Alder Creek 08AA-SC /28/ Aishihik Lake 08AA-SC /28/ Haines Junction Farm 08AA-SC /29/ Clay Creek 08AB-SC /28/ Summit 08AB-SC03 0 4/29/ Profile Mountain 08AB-SC /28/ Yukon River Basin Tagish 09AA-SC /28/ E Montana Mountain 09AA-SC /27/ E Log Cabin (B.C.) 09AA-SC /27/ Atlin (B.C) 09AA-SC /30/ Mt McIntyre B 09AB-SC01B /5/ Whitehorse Airport 09AB-SC /1/ Meadow Creek 09AD-SC /27/ Jordan Lake 09AD-SC /29/ Morley Lake 09AE-SC /27/ Mount Berdoe 09AH-SC /27/ Satasha Lake 09AH-SC /27/ Williams Creek 09AH-SC /27/ Twin Creeks 09BA-SC /28/ Hoole River 09BA-SC /29/ Burns Lake 09BA-SC /29/ Finlayson Airstrip 09BA-SC /29/ Fuller Lake 09BB-SC /28/ Russell Lake 09BB-SC /28/ Rose Creek 09BC-SC /27/ Mount Nansen 09CA-SC /27/ MacIntosh 09CA-SC /27/ Burwash Airstrip 09CA-SC /28/ Duke River 09CA-SC /28/ Beaver Creek 09CB-SC /28/ Chair Mountain 09CB-SC /28/ N.S White River 09CB-SC No Surv N.S. 0 2 Casino Creek 09CD-SC /27/ Pelly Farm 09CD-SC /26/ Printed on from the Environment Yukon Snow Survey System Code "E" - Estimate, Code "B" - Survey date is outside of valid sampling range 23

24 Drainage Basin and Snow Course For Sample Date: This Year Water Content Name Number Elev Date of Snow Water Last Average Yrs (m) Survey Depth Content Year of (cm) (mm) (mm) (mm) Rec Yukon River Basin Plata Airstrip 09DA-SC /28/ Arrowhead Lake 09DA-SC No Surv N.S Withers Lake 09DB-SC /28/ Rackla Lake 09DB-SC /28/ o Airport A 09DC-SC01A 540 4/28/ N.S o Airport B 09DC-SC01B 540 4/28/ N.S Edwards Lake 09DC-SC /28/ Calumet 09DD-SC /28/ E King Solomon Dome 09EA-SC /29/ Grizzly Creek 09EA-SC /30/ Midnight Dome 09EB-SC /29/ Porcupine River Basin Riff's Ridge 09FA-SC /30/ Eagle Plains 09FB-SC /30/ Eagle River 09FB-SC /30/ Old Crow 09FD-SC /7/ B 99 E Liard River Basin Watson Lake Airport 10AA-SC /28/ Tintina Airstrip 10AA-SC /29/ Pine Lake Airstrip 10AA-SC /30/ Ford Lake 10AA-SC /29/ Frances River 10AB-SC /28/ Hyland River 10AD-SC /29/ Peel River Basin Blackstone River 10MA-SC /30/ Ogilvie River 10MA-SC /30/ Bonnet Plume Lake 10MB-SC /28/ Alaska Snow Courses Eaglecrest 08AK-SC /28/ Moore Creek Bridge 08AK-SC /1/ Printed on from the Environment Yukon Snow Survey System Code "E" - Estimate, Code "B" - Survey date is outside of valid sampling range 24

25 INDEX OF YUKON SNOW COURSES 2009 NAME NUMBER ELEVATION (m) LATITUDE LONGITUDE AGENCY YUKON RIVER BASIN T agish 09AA-SC o 17' 134 o 11' 2 Montana Mountain 09AA-SC o 08' 134 o 44' 2 Log Cabin (B.C.) 09AA-SC o 46' 134 o 58' 2 Atlin (B.C.) 09AA-SC o 34' 133 o 42' 3 Mt. McInt yre (B) 09AB-SC1B o 39' 135 o 08' 1 W hit ehorse Airport 09AB-SC o 42' 135 o 04' 1 Meadow Creek 09AD-SC o 35' 133 o 05' 2 Jordan Lake 09AD-SC o 52' 132 o 50' 1 Morley Lake 09AE-SC o 00' 132 o 07' 2 Mount Berdoe 09AH-SC o 02' 136 o 14' 2 Satasha Lake 09AH-SC o 29' 136 o 16' 2 W illiams Creek 09AH-SC o 21' 136 o 43' 2 T win Creeks 09BA-SC o 37' 131 o 16' 1 Hoole River 09BA-SC o 32' 131 o 36' 1 Burns Lake 09BA-SC o 17' 129 o 57' 1 Finlayson Airstrip 09BA-SC o 42' 130 o 46' 1 Fuller Lake 09BB-SC o 58' 130 o 46' 1 Rose Creek 09BC-SC o 20' 133 o 23' 1 Russell Lake 09BB-SC o 12' 133 o 29' 1 Mount Nansen 09CA-SC o 02' 137 o 03' 2 MacIntosh 09CA-SC o 43' 137 o 20' 2 Burwash Airstrip 09CA-SC o 23' 139 o 03' 2 Duke River 09CA-SC o 15' 138 o 59' 6 Beaver Creek 09CB-SC o 25' 140 o 51' 2 Chair Mountain 09CB-SC o 04' 140 o 48' 2 W hit e River 09CB-SC o 55' 140 o 32' 2 Casino Creek 09CD-SC o 44' 138 o 48' 2 P elly Farm 09CD-SC o 50' 137 o 20' 8 P lata Airstrip 09DA-SC o 31' 132 o 03' 1 Arrowhead Lake 09DA-SC o 42' 131 o 10' 1 W ithers Lake 09DB-SC o 59' 132 o 18' 1 Rackla Lake 09DB-SC o 17' 133 o 15' 1 o Airport (A) 09DC-SC1A o 38' 135 o 53' 2 o Airport (B) 09DC-SC1B o 38' 135 o 53' 2 Edwards Lake 09DC-SC o 42' 134 o 18' 1 Calumet 09DD-SC o 55' 135 o 24' 2 King Solomon Dome 09EA-SC o 52' 138 o 56' 2 Grizzly Creek 09EA-SC o 26' 138 o 16 2 Boundary (Alaska) 09EC-SC o 05' 141 o 27' 4 Midnight Dome 09EB-SC o 04' 139 o 24' 2 25

26 NAME NUMBER ELEVATION (m) LATITUDE LONGITUDE AGENCY LIARD RIVER BASIN W atson Lake Airport 10AA-SC o 07' 128 o 50' 2 T intina Airstrip 10AA-SC o 05' 131 o 15' 1 P ine Lake Airstrip 10AA-SC o 06' 130 o 56' 2 Ford Lake 10AA-SC o 47' 131 o 28' 1 Frances River 10AB-SC o 35' 129 o 11' 2 Hyland River 10AD-SC o 31' 128 o 16' 2 ALS EK RIVER BAS IN Canyon Lake 08AA-SC o 07' 136 o 59' 7 Alder Creek 08AA-SC o 22' 137 o 06' 6 Aishihik Lake 08AA-SC o 12' 137 o 00' 7 Haines Junction Farm 08AA-SC o 45' 137 o 34' 2 Clay Creek 08AB-SC o 09' 137 o 56' 6 Summitt 08AB-SC o 51' 137 o 47' 2 P rofile Mountain 08AB-SC o 38' 137 o 56' 6 PEEL RIVER BAS IN Blackstone River 10MA-SC o 57' 138 o 15' 2 Ogilvie River 10MA-SC o 21' 138 o 18' 2 Bonnet P lume Lake 10MB-SC o 18' 132 o 00' 1 PO RCUPINE RIVER BAS IN Riff's Ridge 09FA-SC o 57' 137 o 22' 2 Eagle P lains 09FB-SC o 22' 136 o 44' 2 Eagle River 09FB-SC o 27' 136 o 43' 2 Old Crow 09FD-SC o 34' 139 o 51' 5 ALAS KA S NO W CO URS ES Eaglecrest 34J o 17' 134 o 32' 4 Moore Creek Bridge 34K o 31' 135 o 15' 4 Numbers refer to Agencies cooperating in the Yukon Snow Surveys: 1. Department of Environment, Government of Yukon 2. Dept of Energy Mines and Res ources Yukon 3. British Columbia Ministry of Environment 4. USDA Natural Res ources Cons ervation Service 5. Yukon Transportation and Highways 6. Parks Canada 7. Yukon Energy Corp. 8. Private Contract 26

YUKON SNOW SURVEY BULLETIN & WATER SUPPLY FORECAST May 1, 2008

YUKON SNOW SURVEY BULLETIN & WATER SUPPLY FORECAST 1, 2008 Prepared and issued by: Water Resources Section Environmental Programs Branch Environment Yukon Yukon Snow Survey 2008 1 PREFACE The Yukon Snow