Protecting the Mackenzie River: The Canada Water Agency invests over $1 million in 6 freshwater projects

The Canada Water Agency announced an investment of over $1 million over two years for six projects being funded through the Mackenzie River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative.

February 12, 2026 – Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

The Canada Water Agency announced an investment of over $1 million over two years for six projects being funded through the Mackenzie River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative. 

The goal of the Mackenzie River Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative is to improve the water quality and aquatic ecosystem health of the Mackenzie River.

Aurora College (Yellowknife, NT)
Project: Applying a permafrost-lake land system1 framework to explore the diversity in aquatic ecosystems and trajectories of change for the Mackenzie River Basin
Funding amount: $198,950 over two years
Description: This project will study how climate change is affecting lakes in permafrost regions by advancing a framework to better understand how land, water, and ecosystems are connected and how they are changing. Work will focus on areas around Inuvik, Fort McPherson, Yellowknife, and Behchoko. As part of this project, a StoryMap will be developed as a visual tool to show the origins of different types of permafrost lakes and their sensitivities to climate shifts. This will help communities and decision-makers plan and monitor watersheds more effectively in the future.