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

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1 YUKON SNOW SURVEY BULLETIN & WATER SUPPLY FORECAST 1, 213 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 st, April 1 st and 1 st - 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: Jonathan Kolot Richard owicz Hydrology Technologist Manager, Hydrology (867) (867) jonathan.kolot@gov.yk.ca richard.janowicz@gov.yk.ca NETWORK CHANGES for 213 As of 21, snow surveys are no longer conducted at Clay Creek, Profile Mountain, Duke River or Arrowhead Lake. This bulletin as well as earlier editions is available online 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 Department of Environment Government of Yukon Box 273, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 Yukon Snow Survey 213 2

3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Yukon Snow Survey Bulletin and Water Supply Forecast is published three times annually: after ch 1 st, April 1 st, and 1 st. The Bulletin forms part of the Yukon Snow Survey Program administered 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: Meteorologist, Wildland Fire Management, Yukon Department of Community Services, Whitehorse 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 Branch, 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 Yukon Energy Corporation Yukon Snow Survey 213 3

4 YUKON TERRITORY SNOWPACK CONDITIONS AND RUNOFF PROJECTION WEATHER Temperatures were well below normal for the month of April. Late in the month, areas throughout southern Yukon received unseasonably high snowfall; some weather stations recorded more than 2mm over a two-day period. This late-month precipitation created monthly anomalies in excess of 2% throughout much of southwest and southeast Yukon. Such anomalies are somewhat misleading, however, as April is typically the driest month of year. SNOWPACK Due to cooler than average April temperatures, the 1 st Yukon snowpack is well above normal. The delay in spring melt was taken into account when calculating percentages of normal; April averages were used in place of averages. The overall Yukon snowpack is quite variable, ranging from below normal to well above normal. The Porcupine River and Peel River watersheds are near normal, whereas the Haines Junction area is below normal. By contrast, there is an above-normal snowpack in much of southern Yukon with well-above-normal values in the Dawson area and an area extending south and east from Faro and Ross River to the headwaters of the Liard River. STREAMFLOW Streamflow conditions throughout Yukon are generally near normal. The Stewart River is slightly below normal while the Alsek River is well above normal. The upper Yukon, Pelly, Porcupine, Liard and Peel Rivers are near normal. Streamflow during this period represents winter baseflow, which provides an indication of winter groundwater contributions. Yukon Snow Survey 213 4

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8 millimetres of water YUKON RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Yukon River basin range from well above normal in the southeastern portion of the basin to above normal in south-central regions and normal in northern regions. Overall conditions for the Yukon River basin are generally above normal. UPPER YUKON RIVER SUB-BASIN (SOUTHERN LAKES) Snowpack conditions in the upper Yukon River watershed are above normal. Values range from 13 percent of normal at Atlin to 17 percent of normal at Tagish; which is a 38-year record. The basin-wide average has been estimated to be 134 percent of normal. UPPER YUKON RIVER SUB-BASIN (SOUTHERN LAKES/WHITEHORSE) GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 213 Yukon Snow Survey 213 8

9 percent of normal millimetres of water WHITEHORSE AREA Snowpack conditions in the Whitehorse area are above normal for 1 st. Values range from 117 percent of normal at Whitehorse Airport to 17 percent of normal at Tagish. An area-wide average is estimated to be 139 percent of normal WHITEHORSE AREA GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM 5 LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION Whitehorse Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun MONTHLY PRECIP PRECIP TO DATE Yukon Snow Survey 213 9

10 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) Note: The Tagish snow pillow went offline early in the winter necessitating the use of data provided by Water Resources Wolf Creek Subalpine snow pillow to illustrate build-up of the snow pack in the Whitehorse area. The three-year mean was developed using data from YUKON RIVER AT WHITEHORSE AVERAGE FLOW ('4-'13) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW Yukon Snow Survey 213 1

11 ELEVATION (m) YUKON RIVER and MARSH LAKE The mean elevation of sh Lake during April was m or.197m below normal. Yukon River at Whitehorse mean discharge during April was 94 percent of normal. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are each expected to be 125 and 13 percent of normal, respectively. MARSH LAKE NEAR WHITEHORSE AVERAGE ELEVATION ('76-'13) MEAN MONTHLY ELEVATION Yukon Snow Survey

12 percent of normal millimetres of water PELLY RIVER SUB-BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Pelly River watershed are well above normal. Values of snow water equivalent range from 135 percent of normal at Twin Creeks to 192 percent of normal at Hoole River; which is a 36-year record. A basin-wide average has been estimated to be 144 percent of normal. Mean April streamflow for the watershed was 16 percent of normal as indicated by the Pelly River below Vangorda Creek. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows are expected to be 14 percent and 145 percent of normal, respectively PELLY BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION Ross River Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun MONTHLY PRECIP PRECIP TO DATE Yukon Snow Survey

13 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) PELLY RIVER BELOW VANGORDA CREEK AVERAGE FLOW ('72-'13) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW Yukon Snow Survey

14 percent of normal millimetres of water STEWART RIVER SUB-BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Stewart River watershed are slightly above normal for 1 st. Values of snow water equivalent range from 98 percent of normal at Calumet to 116 percent of normal at Plata Airstrip. A basinwide average has been estimated to be 17 percent of normal. Mean April streamflow for the watershed was 91 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 each expected to be 11 and 115 percent of normal, respectively STEWART BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION o Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun MONTHLY PRECIP PRECIP TO DATE Yukon Snow Survey

15 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) STEWART RIVER AT THE MOUTH AVERAGE FLOW ('64-'13) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW Yukon Snow Survey

16 percent of normal millimetres of water CENTRAL YUKON RIVER BASIN (CARMACKS AREA) Snowpack conditions in the Carmacks area are above normal for 1 st. Values of snow water equivalent range from 126 percent of normal at MacIntosh to 134 percent of normal at Mt. Berdoe. An areawide average has been estimated to be 127 percent of normal CENTRAL YUKON BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM 5 LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 213 ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION Carmacks Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun MONTHLY PRECIP PRECIP TO DATE Yukon Snow Survey

17 percent of normal millimetres of water LOWER YUKON RIVER BASIN (DAWSON AREA) Snowpack conditions in the Dawson area are well above normal for 1 st. Values of snow water equivalent range from 14 percent of normal at Grizzly Creek to a record of 17 percent of normal at Midnight Dome; which is a 38-year record. An area-wide average has been estimated to be 137 percent of normal LOWER YUKON BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM 5 LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION Dawson Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun MONTHLY PRECIP PRECIP TO DATE Yukon Snow Survey

18 percent of normal millimetres of water LIARD RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions within the Liard River watershed are above normal. Values of snow water equivalent range from 125 percent of normal at the Frances River to 154 percent of normal at Tintina Airstrip. A basin-wide average has been estimated to be 141 percent of normal. Mean April streamflow for the Liard River upstream of Upper Liard was percent of normal. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are expected to be 14 percent and 145 percent of normal, respectively LIARD BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM LOWER THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION Watson Lake Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun MONTHLY PRECIP PRECIP TO DATE Yukon Snow Survey

19 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) LIARD RIVER AT UPPER CROSSING AVERAGE FLOW ('6-'13) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW Yukon Snow Survey

20 percent of normal millimetres of water ALSEK RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions within the Alsek River watershed, although variable, are mostly below normal for 1 st. Values of snow water equivalent range from 64 percent of normal at Summit to 124 percent of normal at Alder Creek. A basin-wide average has been estimated to be 93 percent of normal. Mean monthly streamflow for April as indicated by the Alsek River above Bates River was 131 percent of normal. The Alsek River is primarily a glacial regime type, which is largely dependent on summer temperatures. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are expected to be 95 and percent of normal, respectively ALSEK BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean ACCUMULATED PRECIPITATION Haines Junction Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun MONTHLY PRECIP PRECIP TO DATE Yukon Snow Survey 213 2

21 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) ALSEK RIVER ABOVE BATES RIVER AVERAGE FLOW ('74-'13) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW Yukon Snow Survey

22 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) millimetres of water PEEL RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Peel River watershed are near normal with values of snow water equivalent ranging from 92 percent of normal at Blackstone to 95 percent of normal at Ogilvie. A basin-wide average has been estimated to be 95 percent of normal PEEL BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM Mean monthly streamflow for April as indicated by the Peel River above Canyon Creek station was 13 percent of normal. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are expected to be 95 and percent of normal, respectively. 5 LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 213 PEEL RIVER ABOVE CANYON CREEK AVERAGE FLOW ('62-'13) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW Yukon Snow Survey

23 DISCHARGE (m 3 /s) millimetres of water PORCUPINE RIVER BASIN Snowpack conditions in the Porcupine River watershed are near normal with values of snow water equivalent ranging from 79 percent of normal at Eagle Plains to 112 percent of normal at Old Crow. A basin-wide average has been estimated to be 95 percent of normal. Mean April streamflow for the basin as indicated by the Porcupine River near the International Boundary is 97 percent of normal. Given normal summer meteorological conditions, volume runoff and peak flows for the season are expected to be 95 and percent of normal, respectively PORCUPINE BASIN GREATER THAN HISTORICAL MAXIMUM LESS THAN HISTORICAL MINIMUM 1-1-Apr 1- Basin average snowpack based on selected snow courses Mean 213 PORCUPINE RIVER NEAR INTERNATIONAL BORDER AVERAGE FLOW ('87-'13) MEAN MONTHLY FLOW Yukon Snow Survey

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 Alsek River Basin Canyon Lake 8AA-SC /3/ Alder Creek 8AA-SC /29/ Aishihik Lake 8AA-SC /3/ Haines Junction Farm 8AA-SC4 61 4/25/ Summit 8AB-SC3 4/26/ Yukon River Basin Tagish 9AA-SC1 18 4/25/ Montana Mountain 9AA-SC2 12 4/25/ Log Cabin (B.C.) 9AA-SC /3/ Atlin (B.C) 9AA-SC4 73 5/1/ Mt McIntyre B 9AB-SC1B 197 4/3/ Whitehorse Airport 9AB-SC2 7 4/3/ Meadow Creek 9AD-SC /3/ Jordan Lake 9AD-SC2 93 4/3/ Morley Lake 9AE-SC /29/ Mount Berdoe 9AH-SC /29/ Satasha Lake 9AH-SC /29/ N.S Williams Creek 9AH-SC /29/ N.S Twin Creeks 9BA-SC2 9 4/29/ Hoole River 9BA-SC /3/ Burns Lake 9BA-SC /29/ Finlayson Airstrip 9BA-SC /3/ Fuller Lake 9BB-SC /29/ Russell Lake 9BB-SC4 16 4/29/ Rose Creek 9BC-SC1 18 5/1/ Mount Nansen 9CA-SC /29/ MacIntosh 9CA-SC /29/ N.S Burwash Airstrip 9CA-SC3 81 4/25/ Burwash Uplands 9CA-SC6 18 No Surv N.S. 8 4 Beaver Creek 9CB-SC /25/ Chair Mountain 9CB-SC /26/ White River 9CB-SC3 823 No Surv N.S. 2 Casino Creek 9CD-SC /29/ Pelly Farm 9CD-SC /28/ Plata Airstrip 9DA-SC1 83 4/29/ Withers Lake 9DB-SC /29/ Code "E" - Estimate Yukon Snow Survey

25 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 Rackla Lake 9DB-SC2 14 4/29/ o Airport A 9DC-SC1A 54 4/29/ o Airport B 9DC-SC1B 54 4/29/ Edwards Lake 9DC-SC2 83 4/29/ Calumet 9DD-SC /29/ King Solomon Dome 9EA-SC1 18 4/26/ Grizzly Creek 9EA-SC /1/ Midnight Dome 9EB-SC /1/ Porcupine River Basin Riff's Ridge 9FA-SC1 65 4/3/ Eagle Plains 9FB-SC1 71 4/3/ Eagle River 9FB-SC2 34 4/3/ Old Crow 9FD-SC /26/ Liard River Basin Watson Lake Airport 1AA-SC /3/ Tintina Airstrip 1AA-SC /3/ Pine Lake Airstrip 1AA-SC /3/ Ford Lake 1AA-SC /3/ Frances River 1AB-SC1 73 4/26/ Hyland River 1AD-SC /1/ Peel River Basin Blackstone River 1MA-SC1 92 5/1/ Ogilvie River 1MA-SC /3/ Bonnet Plume Lake 1MB-SC /29/ Alaska Snow Courses Eaglecrest 8AK-SC1 35 4/29/ Moore Creek Bridge 8AK-SC2 7 5/2/ Code "E" - Estimate Yukon Snow Survey

26 INDEX OF YUKON SNOW COURSES NAME NUMBER ELEVATION (m) LATITUDE LONGITUDE AGENCY YUKON RIVER BASIN Tagish 9AA-SC o 17' 134 o 11' 2 Montana Mountain 9AA-SC o 8' 134 o 44' 2 Log Cabin (B.C.) 9AA-SC o 46' 134 o 58' 2 Atlin (B.C.) 9AA-SC o 34' 133 o 42' 3 Mt. McIntyre (B) 9AB-SC1B o 39' 135 o 8' 1 Whitehorse Airport 9AB-SC2 7 6 o 42' 135 o 4' 1 Meadow Creek 9AD-SC o 35' 133 o 5' 2 Jordan Lake 9AD-SC o 52' 132 o 5' 2 Morley Lake 9AE-SC o ' 132 o 7' 2 Mount Berdoe 9AH-SC o 2' 136 o 14' 2 Satasha Lake 9AH-SC o 29' 136 o 16' 2 Williams Creek 9AH-SC o 21' 136 o 43' 2 Twin Creeks 9BA-SC o 37' 131 o 16' 2 Hoole River 9BA-SC o 32' 131 o 36' 2 Burns Lake 9BA-SC o 17' 129 o 57' 2 Finlayson Airstrip 9BA-SC o 42' 13 o 46' 2 Fuller Lake 9BB-SC o 58' 13 o 46' 2 Rose Creek 9BC-SC o 2' 133 o 23' 2 Russell Lake 9BB-SC o 12' 133 o 29' 2 Mount Nansen 9CA-SC o 2' 137 o 3' 2 Macintosh 9CA-SC o 43' 137 o 2' 2 Burwash Airstrip 9CA-SC o 23' 139 o 3' 2 Duke River 9CA-SC o 15' 138 o 59' 6 Beaver Creek 9CB-SC o 25' 14 o 51' 2 Chair Mountain 9CB-SC o 4' 14 o 48' 2 White River 9CB-SC o 55' 14 o 32' 2 Casino Creek 9CD-SC o 44' 138 o 48' 2 Pelly Farm 9CD-SC o 5' 137 o 2' 8 Plata Airstrip 9DA-SC o 31' 132 o 3' 2 Arrowhead Lake 9DA-SC o 42' 131 o 1' 2 Withers Lake 9DB-SC o 59' 132 o 18' 2 Rackla Lake 9DB-SC o 17' 133 o 15' 2 o Airport (A) 9DC-SC1A o 38' 135 o 53' 2 o Airport (B) 9DC-SC1B o 38' 135 o 53' 2 Edwards Lake 9DC-SC o 42' 134 o 18' 2 Calumet 9DD-SC o 55' 135 o 24' 2 King Solomon Dome 9EA-SC o 52' 138 o 56' 2 Grizzly Creek 9EA-SC o 26' 138 o 16 2 Boundary (Alaska) 9EC-SC o 5' 141 o 27' 4 Midnight Dome 9EB-SC o 4' 139 o 24' 2 Yukon Snow Survey

27 NAME NUMBER ELEVATION (m) LATITUDE LONGITUDE AGENCY LIARD RIVER BASIN Watson Lake Airport 1AA-SC o 7' 128 o 5' 2 Tintina Airstrip 1AA-SC o 5' 131 o 15' 2 Pine Lake Airstrip 1AA-SC o 6' 13 o 56' 2 Ford Lake 1AA-SC o 47' 131 o 28' 2 Frances River 1AB-SC o 35' 129 o 11' 2 Hyland River 1AD-SC o 31' 128 o 16' 2 ALSEK RIVER BASIN Canyon Lake 8AA-SC o 7' 136 o 59' 7 Alder Creek 8AA-SC o 22' 137 o 6' 2 Aishihik Lake 8AA-SC o 12' 137 o ' 7 Haines Junction Farm 8AA-SC o 45' 137 o 34' 2 Clay Creek 8AB-SC o 9' 137 o 56' 6 Summit 8AB-SC3 6 o 51' 137 o 47' 2 Profile Mountain 8AB-SC4 9 6 o 38' 137 o 56' 6 PEEL RIVER BASIN Blackstone River 1MA-SC o 57' 138 o 15' 2 Ogilvie River 1MA-SC o 21' 138 o 18' 2 Bonnet Plume Lake 1MB-SC o 18' 132 o ' 2 PORCUPINE RIVER BASIN Riff's Ridge 9FA-SC o 57' 137 o 22' 2 Eagle Plains 9FB-SC o 22' 136 o 44' 2 Eagle River 9FB-SC o 27' 136 o 43' 2 Old Crow 9FD-SC o 34' 139 o 51' 6 ALASKA SNOW COURSES 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 Resources Yukon 3. British Columbia Ministry of Environment 4. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 5. Yukon Transportation and Highways 6. Parks Canada 7. Yukon Energy Corp. 8. Private Contract Yukon Snow Survey

28 Location of Water Resource Snow Courses Yukon Snow Survey

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

YUKON SNOW SURVEY BULLETIN & WATER SUPPLY FORECAST 1, 215 Prepared and issued by: Water Resources Branch Environment Yukon PREFACE The Yukon Snow Survey Bulletin and Water Supply Forecast is prepared and