Yukon's Salmon in Peril: The Battle for Safe Passage at Whitehorse Dam

The arduous journey of a magnificent Chinook salmon, an iconic symbol of the Yukon's wild spirit, culminates in a perilous bottleneck: the Whitehorse dam's aging fish ladder. For decades, this critical infrastructure, vital for Yukon Energy's operations, has been a contentious flashpoint for fish safety.

Now, alarming new data from the 2023 season has ignited urgent calls for profound change, spotlighting the significant and potentially devastating risks to these resilient fish.

A recent telemetry study delivered a stark, undeniable warning: a staggering 40 to 50 percent of tracked Chinook salmon attempting passage through the Whitehorse dam either perished or were forced to abandon their spawning migration.

This isn't merely a statistic; it represents a profound threat to a species already battling numerous environmental challenges, a devastating blow to their chances of perpetuating future generations.

Experts are increasingly pointing to the 'plunge pool' at the very entrance of the fish ladder as a primary culprit, describing it as a potentially fatal trap.

Observations reveal fish congregating in this area, expending precious energy, and suffering visible injuries such as scale loss and fungal infections – both below and above the dam. It's a clear indication that the current design is not adequately guiding or protecting these migrating giants.

Yukon Energy, while acknowledging the complex interplay of factors affecting salmon survival—including fluctuating water levels, predatory pressures, and angling success—is now stepping up with a comprehensive and ambitious plan.

The utility proposes a multi-year, multi-million-dollar overhaul, aimed at transforming the fish ladder from a potential hazard into a genuinely safe haven for the salmon.

These are not minor adjustments. The proposed enhancements include a complete redesign of attraction flows to better guide fish to the ladder, the installation of new state-of-the-art screens and baffles for more effective passage, and significant upgrades to monitoring technologies.

Crucially, direct interventions are planned within the problematic plunge pool to mitigate its dangers. Furthermore, a new, modernized fish counting station promises more accurate and reliable data collection.

The Yukon Utilities Board (YUB), acting as the region's vigilant regulatory watchdog, isn't just listening; they are demanding concrete results.

During their annual review, the board pressed Yukon Energy for clear commitments and firm timelines, making it unequivocally clear that studies and analyses alone are no longer sufficient. What's needed now are demonstrable, tangible improvements that directly enhance salmon survival.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), while expressing some reservations regarding the limited scope and sample size of the telemetry study, generally supports Yukon Energy's proposed upgrades.

They recognize the urgent need for action but also highlight the inherent complexities in accurately assessing and attributing fish mortality in such a dynamic environment.

For the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council, the issue of salmon safety at the dam cuts far deeper than statistics.

Salmon are not just fish; they are an integral cornerstone of their culture, traditional sustenance, and enduring identity. Both nations have voiced strong criticism, demanding quicker, more transparent action and emphasizing that the salmon's well-being and their ability to thrive are non-negotiable cultural and ecological imperatives.

This isn't a new struggle.

The current fish ladder, a relic from the 1950s, has been a subject of concern and debate for many decades. The challenge lies in delicately balancing the region's essential energy needs with the paramount imperative to protect and preserve its irreplaceable natural heritage.

As Yukon Energy aims to commence construction on these vital enhancements by 2025-26, pending DFO approval, the pressure remains acutely high.

The fate of the Yukon River's magnificent Chinook salmon, a powerful symbol of the wild North, hangs precariously in the balance, awaiting a future where safe passage through this man-made obstacle is finally, and unequivocally, guaranteed.