The Daring Lake Tundra Ecosystem Research Station (TERS) was established in 1994 as a multi-purpose facility to facilitate long-term research and monitoring of the tundra ecosystem. It also support the conservation education program Tundra Science Camp, which has been in operation since 1995. The station is located in the Southern Arctic Ecozone 50 km north of treeline. The research station is a model facility using solar and wind power. It also uses the latest techniques in waste management and bear deterrence. TERS operates as a cooperative with many partner organizations.

	Name	Email	Phone Number
Primary Contact	Karin Clark	Karin_clark@gov.nt.ca	(867) 920-3014
Secondary Contact	Brett Elkin	Brett_Elkin@gov.nt.ca	(867) 873-7761

Download Daring Lake Tundra Ecosystem Research Station profile as a PDF document

Owner
Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Membership
Regular Member

Website
www.enr.gov.nt.ca/programs/tundra-ecosystem-research-station/facility

Latitude
64.52

Longitude
-111.35

Location
Daring Lake

Nearest Community
Wekweeti

Territory/ Province
Northwest Territories

Aboriginal Government/ Homeland
www.tlicho.ca

Facility Type
Seasonally-Operated Research Station

Research Hinterland
Continuous Permafrost, Lake, Lichen, Tundra, Wetland

Main Research Disciplines
Archaeology, Environmental Sciences, Geology and Sedimentology, Hydrology, Mapping/GIS, Soil Science, Terrestrial Biology/Ecology, Traditional/Aboriginal Knowledge

Current Projects
Controls on carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in low arctic tundra ecosystems (Queen’s);  Shrub-snow interactions and the influence of winter processes on the expansion of shrub cover in the Arctic, and the consequences of such vegetation change for biogeochemical cycling of C and N (Queen’s); Effects of climate change on plant communities, soil biogeochemical cycling, and caribou-vegetation interactions in low arctic tundra (Queen’s).

Power
Generator, Solar, Wind

Communications
Telephone, Satellite phone, VHF, Internet, Printer/Scanner

Local Transportation
Access from Yellowknife is by charter aircraft _ ski equipped aircraft in the winter and float planes in the summer. GNWT can arrange charters to TERS. Two aluminum boats and motors, four snowmobiles and sleds at the camp. Local transportation is available upon request.

Equipment Storage
Limited on-site storage

Dormitory/Sleeping Facilities
Bunkhouses for up to 20 people. Small tents in the summer allow increased capacity to 30

Dining/Kitchen Facilities
Full kitchen facilities- propane stove, fridge, high efficiency electric fridge and freezer; seating for 24; cooking and cleaning up is shared among users

Laboratory Facilities
Dry laboratory with various sampling and equipment including a drying oven and dissecting microscopes. Herbarium and lichen collection is available on site

Fuel Availability
Project proponents supply their own fuel for helicopter of fixed-wing aircraft. GNWT can arrange fuel caching at TERS. Contact the Station Manager. GNWT maintains a fuel ache of Jet-B, Av-Gas, unleaded gas and heating oil for the research station and ENR projects.

Research Requirements
All researchers need a Scientific Research License through the Aurora Research Institute. Additional permits may be required depending on the nature of the research. www.accessnwt.ca/licensing/research-regulators

Special Rules and Regulations
All users must contact the Station Manager for reservations and charters to the camp

Local External Resources
GNWT maintains an automated weather station at the site. GNWT has produced several vegetation classifications for the area. Weather data, vegetation classifications and other monitoring data are available to researchers.

Nearest Medical Service
Health Centre at Ekati Mine (50 km)

Safety Considerations
TERS is a remote field station in the wilderness. Safety is paramount as medical response times can be significant. All users are required to have the following training: Bear safety and Wilderness first aid

Cost
Daily rates are currently under review

Other Information
N/A

Last Updated
2015-05-30