What is the Yukon Water Board?

The Yukon Water Board is an independent body established under the Yukon Waters Act and Chapter 14 of the Umbrella Final Agreement that issues water licences for various activities that use water or deposit waste in water. These licences aim to balance conservation goals with economic development.

The Board consists of 4-9 sitting members. At least 3 of these are appointed by the Yukon Government, some by the Federal Government, and one-third by the Council of Yukon First Nations.

Nine types of activities, called undertakings, require water licences in the Yukon, including mining and exploration, agriculture, hydroelectricity, and municipal use. You don't need a water licence to water a garden or for household use.

A detailed explanation of the Yukon Water Board and an interactive map of current Water Licences and applications can be found at
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/cf5910d93c6d487c90b1982160da211a

Why Regulate Water?

Water is unlike other natural resources because it is constantly in motion. Interference with water can impact far-away downstream areas. The Yukon has a particular responsibility to use water sustainably because most of its water comes from sources within the territory and flows to other parts of the continent.

Regulating water is crucial for maintaining sustainable ecosystems, ensuring public health, and supporting economic stability. Proper water management helps prevent overuse and pollution, protects aquatic habitats, and ensures a reliable supply for agriculture, industry, and drinking. Some activities that require water licences can have hugely detrimental impacts on ecosystems. Effective water regulation is essential to preserve this vital resource for future generations and maintain the balance of our natural environment.

Placer Mining

Placer mines extract gold from riverbed deposits. They can disrupt watercourses, making them impassable for fish and other aquatic life. They also raise sediment levels in water bodies, which can smother aquatic habitats, degrade water quality, and pollute drinking water. Placer mining operations in the Yukon range from single people with a small sluice box to companies with dozens of employees and large mechanized equipment.

Quartz (Hard Rock) Mining

Quartz mines rely heavily on water for their operations. Water is used in ore processing and is also essential for managing tailings, where water helps contain waste materials. In hard rock gold mines, crushed ore is treated with a cyanide solution, which dissolves the gold, allowing it to be separated from the surrounding material. Cyanide use in mining has a large potential for massive environmental damage, as seen in the June 2024 landslide at the Eagle Gold Mine in Central Yukon, which released 300 million litres of cyanide solution into the surrounding watershed. Effective water management in mining is vital for operational efficiency and environmental protection to prevent future disasters.

Hydro Power

Hydroelectric power is the Yukon's primary energy source. Yukon Energy operates three hydro generating stations, the largest of which is the Whitehorse Dam on the Yukon River.

Dams like this one significantly affect river ecosystems, particularly fish populations. The Whitehorse Dam has a fish ladder to help fish move upstream.
However, a 2023 study found that among the salmon navigating the dam—whether through the turbines, spillway, or fish ladder—approximately 26 percent of the youngest wild fish, 34 percent of salmon at least a year old, and 23 percent of hatchery fry died.

Downstream passage can be treacherous for juvenile fish, which cannot survive the dramatic change in flow rate and can get caught in the turbines. The Yukon Conservation Society and other concerned citizens and groups have advocated redesigning the fish ladder and creating a spillway that maintains the river's flow rate.

A full explanation of the Yukon Water Board, its history, and its process can be found on YCS's interactive story map at
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/cf5910d93c6d487c90b1982160da211a

We invite you to review the sources below to learn more about the Yukon Water Board.