The Yukon government is directing the owners of the Minto Mine to brace for a heavy spring melt, and to take some needed measures now to avoid a tailings pond spill into the environment. The territory is experiencing its fourth consecutive year of above-average snow pack, and that's raised concerns about whether the melt might overwhelm the mine's water storage capacity. The mine site is about 40 kilometres from the community of Pelly Crossing, Yukon.
Water crisis: World to lose 26% storage by 2050 to trapped sediment, says new UN report
About 50,000 large dams across the world will lose 24-28 per cent water storage capacity by 2050 due to sediment trapped in them, a report by the United Nations Institute for Water, Environment and Health showed. These water reservoirs have already lost about 13-19 per cent capacity to sedimentation, the researchers mentioned. The loss will challenge many aspects of national economies, including irrigation, power generation and water supply, said Duminda Perera, who co-authored the study with UNU-INWEH Director Vladimir Smakhtin and Spencer Williams of McGill University in Montreal.
Future of Water | Adding capacity and resilience to Canadian dam
As the upgrade of Glenmore Dam draws to a close, NCEexplores how the Canadian structure has evolved to help reduce flood risk, while increasing its water supply capacity. Canada’s Glenmore Reservoir has become an important landmark in the city of Calgary, providing clean water, flood mitigation and a recreational setting for locals. The 3.8km2 reservoir is formed by a concrete dam, which has been the focus of a C$81M (£46M) improvement project. Approximately 320m long, Glenmore Dam is located on the Elbow River in south west Calgary. The structure was originally built in 1933 to supply drinking water and enable the city to cater for future population growth.