Groundwater vulnerability in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, Canada

• Published in: Hydrogeology Journal
• Main Authors: Wiebe, Andrew J., McKenzie, Jeffrey M., Hamel, Emilienne, Rudolph, David L., Mulligan, Brendan, de Grandpré, Isabelle
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2023
• Subjects: cold regions hydrogeology; contamination; groundwater vulnerability; groundwater/surface-water relations; cryohydrogeology; Yukon; Northwest Territories; Canada; permafrost
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10012/20033; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-023-02720-8

This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10040-023-02720-8. Use of this Accepted Version is subject to the publisher’s Accepted Manuscript terms of use https://www.springernature.com/gp/open-research/policies/accepted-manuscript-terms. Groundwater is a valuable resource in northern Canada, which is used as a primary drinking water source for many residents and ensures the health of ecosystems. However, no groundwater vulnerability assessment methods have been specifically developed for these cold regions. The extreme seasonal climate and frozen ground conditions present unique challenges in assessing groundwater and well vulnerability. Climate warming and permafrost thaw, population density, contaminant threats, and Indigenous knowledge are key features to integrate within adapted assessment approaches. Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF), Global Water Futures (GWF) Project