Dehcho Research and Projects

Consortium for Permafrost Ecosystems in Transition (CPET)

Improving understanding and prediction of water flow and storage processes in the thawing, peatland-dominated southern fringe of discontinuous permafrost.

• Research locations: Scotty Creek, Suhm Creek, Jean-Marie River, Calendar Creek, 12 remote sensing sites
• Contact: Bill Quinton

Projects

• Mercury biogeochemistry in thawing permafrost landscapes
  Researcher: Kevin Ng; Supervisors: Brian Branfireun and Bill Quinton
• The Hydrological effect of linear disturbances on bogs in the NWT
  Researcher: Angela Elgie; Supervisors: Bill Quinton
• Investigating the impacts of microtopography and canopy cover on subarctic land cover changes in the discontinuous permafrost zone, Scotty Creek, NWT
  Researcher: Jessica Smart; Supervisor: Bill Quinton
• Changes in extreme hydroclimate events in the southern NWT
  Researcher: Bhaleka Persaud; Supervisor: Bill Quinton and Paul Whitfield
• Characterizing treed bogs across a sporadic-discontinuous permafrost landscape
  Researcher: Brenden Disher; Supervisor: Bill Quinton
• Modelling permafrost thaw and groundwater flow
  Researcher: Joelle Langford; Supervisor: Rob Schincariol and Bill Quinton
• The changing influence of permafrost on peatlands hydrology
  Researcher: Élise Devoie; Supervisor: James R. Craig and Bill Quinton

Hydrological and Thermal Function of Mineral Soil Uplands

Quantifying the flux and storage of water and energy through mineral soil uplands in low relief, discontinuous permafrost terrain.

• Research location: Birch River
• Contact: Bill Quinton

Projects

• Permafrost thaw-induced changes to runoff generation and hydrologic connectivity
  Researcher: Ryan Connon; Supervisor: Bill Quinton
• Land-atmosphere interactions in thawing boreal forest-wetland landscapes of the NWT
  Researcher: Manuel Helbig; Supervisors: Oliver Sonnetag and Bill Quinton
• Modelling the effects of permafrost loss on discharge from a wetland-dominated basin in the discontinuous permafrost zone
  Researcher: Lindsay Stone; Supervisors: Bill Quinton and John Pomeroy
• Hydrological impacts of permafrost thaw-induced landscape change
  Researchers: Kristine Haynes with Bill Quinton
• Permafrost thaw-induced forest to wetland conversion: potential impacts on basin snowmelt runoff
  Researcher: Emily Haughton; Supervisor: Bill Quinton
• The impacts of climate change on permafrost distribution
  Researcher: Olivia Carpino; Supervisor: Bill Quinton
• Discerning subsurface flow-paths and water storage on a peat plateau in the discontinuous permafrost region
  Researcher: Mason Dominico; Supervisor: Bill Quinton

Arctic Fire

Examining the impact of wildfires on peat, runoff processes and pathways, and the quality of water draining to downstream ecosystems.

• Research location: Scotty Creek
• Contact: Bill Quinton

Projects

• The impact of a low-severity burn on the trajectory of permafrost thaw: Scotty Creek, NWT, Canada
  Researcher: Elyse Mathieu; Supervisor: Bill Quinton
• Implications of low-severity wildfire on runoff water source and flowpath on a peat plateau in a wetland-dominated landscape at Scotty Creek
  Researcher: Caren Ackley; Supervisor: Bill Quinton and Suzanne Tank

Ka’a’gee Tu First Nation Exploration of Climate Change, Food Security and Health (NWF)

Establishing adaptation plan to ensure community food security and to build resilience through collaborative work.

• Research location: Kakisa
• Contact: Andrew Spring and Alison Blay-Palmer

Ka’a’gee Tu Atlas: Community-Based Monitoring of Landscape Change, Northern Water Futures

Community-based mapping and monitoring project enabling community members record impacts of environmental change and developments on the land.

• Research location: Kakisa
• Contact: Andrew Spring and Alison Blay-Palmer

Investigation into Fish Health and Variable Fish Mercury Concentrations in Regional Lakes

Surveying general health and mercury levels in fish in response to community questions regarding fish population status and variable mercury levels in regional lakes.

• Research location: Kakisa Lake, Tathlina Lake
• Contact: Deborah MacLatchy, Andrea Lister and Heidi Swanson

Dehcho K'éhodi Needs and Assets Inventory

Generating shared knowledge about the community’s capacity to engage in land and water stewardship and build greater capacity.

• Research location: Dehcho
• Contact: Alex Latta

Dehcho K'éhodi Community-Based Strategic Planning

Supporting communities to conduct strategic planning for Dehcho K’éhodi land and water stewardship, including Indigenous Guardians.

• Research location: Kakisa, Sambaa K'e
• Contact: Alex Latta