Coastal Restoration Fund: Projects in Northwest Territories

Beaufort Sea coastal restoration: Using native plant species to stabilize coastline affected by permafrost thaw slumping

Recipient: Aurora College – Aurora Research Institute

Project achievements: The Beaufort Sea Coastal Restoration Project:

• examined the impacts of permafrost thaw slumping on Kugmallit Bay
• created a plan to mitigate these effects using local plant species

Drones were used to:

• obtain detailed imagery from the 3 primary study sites
• map the progression of thaw slumping in the region

The teams were able to sample water runoff at each study site from both thaw slump-impacted and unimpacted terrains. Subsequently, they established experimental 3 x 1m² vegetation plots of native plant species. Collaboration with the community of Tuktoyaktuk and the Tuktoyaktuk Hunters and Trappers Committee played an important role in the study design of the project.

Fund allocation: $423,212 over 5 years

Partners:

• Natural Resources Canada

Media Announcement:

Government of Canada makes a significant Coastal Restoration Fund investment in Canada's Arctic through the Oceans Protection Plan