Environmental monitoring

Fish monitoring

Technical experts with the Government of Yukon and the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun developed a long-term fish monitoring program to measure changes over time in the area.

The fish monitoring program involves:

Assessing fish at approximately 50 locations throughout the Haggart Creek watershed, including:
- unimpacted (control) sites within tributaries that drain into Haggart Creek.
- Potentially impacted sites within Haggart Creek, Dublin Gulch and the South McQuesten River.
Taking samples from fish to assess for heavy metal concentrations and signs of tissue damage.
Determining fish population abundance, to allow for detection of measurable changes over time, due to habitat changes like sediment load or contamination from the mine.
Monitoring Arctic grayling movement throughout the Haggart Creek watershed.

Over the summer, this joint program completed work which included:

Sampling for population abundance and fish habitat at 44 locations (15 potentially impacted locations and 29 control locations).
Collecting tissue samples from Arctic grayling and slimy sculpin, which are being analysed for heavy metal contamination, including arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.

This sampling work will help us form a baseline for these populations and bioaccumulating metals. Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, which can occur in fish, wildlife and other species. Results of this analysis are expected by early 2025.

With the summer work completed, this technical group is now focusing on the next phase of this long-term program. The next phase includes assessing the conditions that fish experience during the winter months and determining how much winter habitat is available for fish in the Haggart Creek watershed.

Eagle Gold fish monitoring map

This map shows all control (state) and impact sites around the Eagle Gold Mine site where fish samples are being collected.

Download the map.

Water monitoring

Eagle Gold water sampling

The Government of Yukon samples and monitors water quality downstream of the Eagle Gold Mine. Water samples are collected daily at select sites.

Water samples are tested for cyanide, metals and other contaminants.

Water sample results are compared to water quality objectives in the mine’s licences and to aquatic health guidelines in:

the Canadian Council of the Ministers of the Environment’s Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines; and
BC’s Approved Water Quality Guidelines.

Cyanide sample results

Cyanide samples show results for five types of cyanide. Results are compared to the chronic aquatic health guideline of 0.005 mg/L. If a result is less than 0.005 mg/L it is not high enough to harm aquatic health in the area. If the result reads ‘ND’ it means ‘non-detect’. ‘Non-detect’ means the amount of cyanide is too small to be measured.

Water samples are tested for the following types of cyanide:

strong acid dissociable (SAD) cyanide;
weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide;
free cyanide;
thiocyanate; and
cyanate.

Metals and other parameters

Metal results are highlighted if samples exceed downstream water quality objectives. We test for the following:

Total metals

Antimony;
arsenic;
cadmium;
cobalt;
copper;
iron;
mercury;
manganese;
molybdenum;
nickel;
lead;
selenium;
silver;
uranium; and
zinc.

Dissolved metals

Aluminum

Other contaminants

Chloride;
sulphate;
ammonia;
nitrate; and
nitrite.

Eagle Gold water sample results

Water sample results from samples collected following the heap leach failure are published on this webpage as they become available.

Eagle Gold water monitoring graph

This graph shows weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide levels from four surface water monitoring locations in Haggart Creek, downstream of the Eagle Gold mine site. The graph is updated regularly as more results become available.

Water monitoring graph: Weak Acid Dissociable (CAD) Cyanide levels in Haggart creek.

Eagle Gold surface water sample location map

This map shows the impact area around the Eagle Gold Mine site where water samples are being collected from surface water.

Download the map.

Eagle Gold surface water sample location map

Wildlife monitoring

Moose and caribou monitoring

The Chief Medical Officer of Health says it is safe to harvest wildlife in the area. Current informtaion shows no evidence that the Eagle Gold heap leach failure has made animals unsafe to eat.

Contaminants can build up in wildlife tissues over time or reach levels that pose risks to human health from consumption. Monitoring of wildlife in the area is needed to understand any long-term effects from the heap leach failure.

The Department of Environment’s Animal Health Unit and the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun are asking hunters harvesting moose and caribou north of Mayo to collect liver, kidney, muscle and incisor bar samples.

We’re looking for samples from the following Game Management Subzones:

2-53
2-56
2-58
2-59
2-60
2-61
2-62
2-63

Hunters will not receive results on their individual submissions. The testing will establish baseline data, and through continued monitoring, will help us determine if the levels of heavy metals in caribou and moose tissues change over time. Preliminary results from this study are expected by early 2025.

Hunters can pick up sampling kits at Environment district offices in:

Mayo;
Dawson; and
Whitehorse.

Sampling kits can also be picked up from the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun Lands office in Mayo.

The Government of Yukon is offering hunters their choice of meat bags or a thermos as a token of appreciation for participation in this voluntary program.

Please contact us at animalhealth@yukon.ca or 867-667-5600 if you have questions or concerns.

Contact information

Department of Energy, Mines and Resources: emr-info@yukon.ca

Department of Environment: env-comms@yukon.ca

Employment Standards Office: eso@yukon.ca or 867-667-5944

Environmental Health Services: environmental.health@yukon.ca or 867-667-8391

Workers’ Safety and Compensation Board - work.safe@wcb.yk.ca or 867-667-5645

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