Summary of Assessment
Changes to aquatic ecosystem health in the Liard sub-basin were minor and localized, as there is little land disturbance in the sub-basin. Moderate localized changes were observed in water quantity, likely related to climate change, and in community health and wellbeing, as a result of industrial development.
Water Quantity
- River flows have increased, in particular in winter and during spring freshet.
- Air temperatures and precipitation have increased, with greatest warming occurring in winter.
Habitat & Species
- Riparian areas in the BC portion of the sub-basin are largely intact.
- No readily available information was found on fish populations or wetlands.
Water Quality
- Instances of poor water quality and fish contamination have been observed locally near Watson Lake and Ross River by some Indigenous communities.
- There was potential evidence of local water quality impacts of upstream oil and gas activity in small watersheds during freshet over the course of the Horn River Basin study.
- Water quality data in the Liard River did not show signs of impact but there was an increasing trend in ion concentrations.
Health & Wellbeing
- Some Indigenous communities consume less country foods and have less confidence in the quality of country foods.
- Access to fishing and trapping areas is disrupted by lower populations of harvestable species, higher costs of transportation, increased competition for resources, and other factors.
Water Quantity
- River flows have increased, in particular in winter and during spring freshet.
- Air temperatures and precipitation have increased, with greatest warming occurring in winter.
Water Quality
- Instances of poor water quality and fish contamination have been observed locally near Watson Lake and Ross River by some Indigenous communities.
- There was potential evidence of local water quality impacts of upstream oil and gas activity in small watersheds during freshet over the course of the Horn River Basin study.
- Water quality data in the Liard River did not show signs of impact but there was an increasing trend in ion concentrations.
Habitat & Species
- Riparian areas in the BC portion of the sub-basin are largely intact.
- No readily available information was found on fish populations or wetlands.
Health & Wellbeing
- Some Indigenous communities consume less country foods and have less confidence in the quality of country foods.
- Access to fishing and trapping areas is disrupted by lower populations of harvestable species, higher costs of transportation, increased competition for resources, and other factors.
People & Places
The Liard sub-basin is a sparsely populated region with small settlements located throughout the watershed. The sub-basin overlaps with the traditional territories of at least eight Indigenous groups. The lower Liard spans the lands of the Sekani (Tsay Keh Dene), South Slavey, Beaver, Tahltan and Saulteaux, with settlements located at Fort Ware, Prophet River, Fort Nelson, and Liard River. The lands of the Kaska, Dogrib (Tlicho) and North Slavey are located in the upper Liard, which includes the communities of Lower Post, Watson Lake, and Fort Liard.
Scientific studies indicate that water quantity in the Liard sub-basin is consistent and not largely affected by human uses such as industry. Stream flows have increased in winter across the basin and in spring in some tributaries, possibly linked to recorded increased winter temperatures and earlier freshet. Documented sources of Indigenous Knowledge information related to water quantity were not found.
Read more about Snow & Ice, Water Flows & Levels, Climate and Water Use
Localized changes in water quality have been observed by some Indigenous communities and linked to land development and potential contamination. Monitoring data have shown little change. Trend analyses show that ionic strength in the Liard River has increased in the past 20 years, while some metals concentrations have decreased.
Read more about Water Quality, Benthic Invertebrates, Land Use and Effluent Discharges
There is limited scientific information available related to aquatic habitat and species in the Liard sub-basin. The scientific information that does exist indicates no significant changes to the health and abundance of aquatic habitat and species within the Liard sub-basin. No documented sources of Indigenous Knowledge information related to changes in aquatic habitat and species were found.
Changes in aquatic ecosystem health in the Liard sub-basin are having moderate impacts on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities in the Liard sub-basin. Health and wellbeing are closely linked to access to country foods, and some Indigenous communities report consuming less country foods than in the past. Maintaining access to preferred country foods is viewed as essential to many Indigenous communities because of the nutritional, cultural, and spiritual values linked to these resources and the associated benefits they offer for health and wellbeing. Although fishing, hunting and trapping for country foods are still valued as core cultural practices, some Indigenous communities report consuming less country foods and having less confidence in the quality of harvested plants and animals. Access to fishing and trapping areas is also disrupted by lower populations of harvestable species, higher costs of transportation and increased competition for resources. Low availability of scientific data was found for levels of country food consumption in the Liard sub-basin.