Article

The Peace-Athabasca Delta in Alberta is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but is threatened by hydroelectric dams, oilsands mining, and climate change. Concerns led the Mikisew Cree First Nation to petition UNESCO to list it as a site in danger.

A seven-year research program initiated in 2015 has developed methods for monitoring freshwater availability and contaminants. Water isotope tracers indicated no increase in vanadium concentrations in Delta lakes due to mining. New legislation may permit treated wastewater releases into the Athabasca River, necessitating monitoring to evaluate impacts on freshwater availability.