Tundra Ecosystem Research Station (TERS)

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Name: Tundra Ecosystem Research Station (TERS) Longitude: 111 degrees, 35 minutes Latitude: 64 degrees, 52 minutes Location: Daring Lake, Northwest Territories

Environment Description:

• Lake
• Tundra
• Wetland
• Interior
• Riparian
• Permafrost
• Ponds
• Streams
• Lichen

Local History and Culture:

The Daring Lake area may have been first used as long as 8000 to 9000 years ago by the Plano people. Pre-Dorset people replaced Plano people 3500 years ago. The area is now considered ancestral land of the Dogrib Dene. Lithic scatter sites provide evidence of past traditional use.

Description of Facility:

The Tundra Ecosystem Research Station is located 300km northeast of Yellowknife, NWT. It was established in 1994 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR), Government of the Northwest Territories. It is a multi-pupose facility whose primary goal is to facilitate long-term research and monitoring of the tundra ecosystem. The Station also supports conservation education programs. The Station is located in the Southern Arctic Ecozone 50 km north of treeline. The Station is a model facility using solar and wind power, and the latest techniques in waste managment and bear deterrence. TERS operates as a cooperative with many partner organizations.

The research station conisists of 10 Weatherhaven buildings that include 2 accommodation buildings, a cook/dining hall, a washhouse, 2 laboratories and several buildings for equipment maintenance and storage. Several of the buildings are heated with oil heaters for winter use. Hot water, shower facilities and the kitchen use propane. The camp has 2 refrigerators and 4 freezers. Electrical power is provided throughout the camp. The Station provides laboratory and field equipment including boats and motors, snowmobiles and hand-held radios.

The Station can accommodate up to 15 people during the winter months and 20 people during the summer when small tents can be used.

Laboratory:

Dry lab - various sampling and lab equipment including a drying oven, dissecting microscopes, etc.

Herbarium and lichen collection are available on-site.

Wet Lab:

N/A

Power:

Solar, wind, back-up gas generator. Electrical power is available to run most researcher's equipment.

Communications:

• MSAT satellite telephone system
• High-speed wireless internet

Access:

Access from Yellowknife is by charter aircraft - ski equipped aircraft in winter, floatplanes in the summer. ENR can arrange charters to the Station.

Local Transportation:

Fuel Availability:

Project proponents supply their own fuel for helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft. ENR can arrange fuel caching at the Station. Contact the Station manager.

ENR maintains a fuel cache of Jet-B, Av-Gas, unleaded gas and heating oil for the camp and ENR projects.

Land Claims Regime:

In 2003, the Daring Lake area became part of the lands included in the Tlicho Land Claim and Self-Government Agreement.

Other Local Resources:

INAC maintains an automated weather station at the site. ENR has produced several vegetation classifications for the area.

Weather data, vegetation classifications and other monitoring data are available to researchers.

Special Rules and Regulations:

Contact the Station Manager for a list of terms and conditions of use.

Nearest Community:

Wekweti (150 km)

Nearest Medical Service:

Health Centre at Ekati Mine (50 km)

Licences, Permits:

Contact the Station Manager for information on logistic support, required government authorizations and community consultation.

Availability:

Upon request, the Station can be used during the winter for short periods of time. It is operated on a full-time basis from May to September when there is an on-site Camp Manager.

Cost:

Contact the Station Manager for a list of user costs. Costs include accommodation, food, phone service and equipment use. Logistic support may be available.

Research History:

Research and monitoring programs have been on-going since 1995. Contact the Station Manager for a list of research and monitoring studies and contacts.

Current Projects:

See above.

Primary Contact:

Steven Matthews
Manager, TERS
Wildlife Division
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, GNWT
P.O. Box 1320
Yellowknife, NT, Canada
X1A 2L9

Phone: (867) 873-7775
FAX: (867) 873-0293
e-mail: steven_matthews@gov.nt.ca

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