Water Quality Monitoring
In Alaska, it is the responsibility of the Department of Environmental Conservation to ensure that industrial wastewater discharges meet water quality standards, and that these discharges do not contaminate our rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands. In order to monitor for the degradation of water caused by industrial activities, DEC needs to know the chemistry and condition of that water before the industrial development occurs.
There is an immediate need to record baseline conditions in the Chilkat River watershed before a proposed large-scale volcanogenic massive-sulfide (VMS) mine is developed. Neither the State of Alaska nor the US government is collecting sufficient data for establishing a statistically valid baseline geochemical data set. ADF&G has conducted three small sampling studies, and the Canada-based exploration company, Constantine Metal Resources (CMR), is collecting a limited amount of data for its own uses. However, CMR is not required to make this data available to the public, nor are they required to collect data that would be useful for the future protection of water quality. If industrial development does occur, this baseline data set could be used to set discharge permit limits, provide guidance in monitoring standards and practices, and it will provide a point of reference that can guide cleanup and restoration efforts in the event of a mine tailings spill or other industrial accident.
Collecting a five-year baseline will require $30-40k per year. CIV partners with the Takshanuk Watershed Council to carry out this effort. In 2018, the program completed its first year of data collection.
Click below support our efforts to collect and compile baseline water quality data for the Chilkat River watershed: