Coppermine Survey Report 1954: Soils and Permafrost

Publisher’s version / Version de l'éditeur:

Vous avez des questions? Nous pouvons vous aider. Pour communiquer directement avec un auteur, consultez la première page de la revue dans laquelle son article a été publié afin de trouver ses coordonnées. Si vous n’arrivez pas à les repérer, communiquez avec nous à PublicationsArchive-ArchivesPublications@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

Questions? Contact the NRC Publications Archive team at

PublicationsArchive-ArchivesPublications@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca. If you wish to email the authors directly, please see the first page of the publication for their contact information.

https://publications-cnrc.canada.ca/fra/droits

L’accès à ce site Web et l’utilisation de son contenu sont assujettis aux conditions présentées dans le site LISEZ CES CONDITIONS ATTENTIVEMENT AVANT D’UTILISER CE SITE WEB.

Report (National Research Council of Canada. Division of Building Research); no. DBR-R-66, 1955-03-01

READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE.

https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/copyright

NRC Publications Archive Record / Notice des Archives des publications du CNRC :

https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=011bc3d1-9275-4711-9a17-58694632a8e0 https://publications-cnrc.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=011bc3d1-9275-4711-9a17-58694632a8e0

NRC Publications Archive

Archives des publications du CNRC

Access and use of this website and the material on it are subject to the Terms and Conditions set forth at

Coppermine Survey Report 1954: Soils and Permafrost

T h i s R e p o r t r e c o r d s t h e s o i l a.nd p e r m a f r o s t d a t a g a t h e r e d i n a p r e l i m i n a r y r e c o n n a i s s a n c e s u r v e y of two l o c a t i o n s c o n s i d e r e d a s p o s s i b l e s i t e s f o r t h e r e l o c a t i o n o f Coppermine. Tho D i v i s i o n

i.s p l e a s e d t o p r e s e n t t h e s e d a t a on b e h a l f of t h e A k l a v i k l i e l o c a t i o n S u r v e y Team and hopes t h a t t h e y w i l l be h e l p f u l t o t h e Department of N o r t h e r n A f f a i r s and N a t i o n a l R e s o u r c e s .

Ottawa June

1955

R o b e r t F. L e g g e t , D i r e c t o r

COPPERMINE SURVEY REPORT : 1954, SOILS AND PERMAFROST - - -

-

by J . A . P i h l a i n e n

The Advisory Committee on Northern Development, a t i t s meeting on September 14,

lW3,

c o n s i d e r e d t h e s u i t a b i l i t y

of t h e p r e s e n t l o c a t i o n or Coppermine, and recommended t h a t i t be moved t o a more s u i t a b l e l o c a t i o n and t h a t an i n v e s t i g a t i o n be made a s soon a s p o s s i b l e t o d e t e r m i n e t h e b e s t a l t e r n a t e s i t e .

Accordingly, members of t h e Aklavik R e l o c a t i o n Survey Team c a r r ~ e d o u t a p r e l i m i n a r y reconnaissance of t h e Coppermine and Tree River a r e a s d u r i n g J u l y , 1954. M r . C.L. M e r r i l l , Department of Northern A f f a i r s and N a t i o n a l Resources, was t h e l e a d e r of t h e p a r t y . C t h e r s u r v e y p a r t y members were:

K . C . Berry

-

Department of P u b l i c Works ( ~ d m o n t o n O f f i c e )

J . K . F r a s e r

-

Geographical Branch, Mines and T e c h n i c a l Surveys E . J . G a r r e t

-

Department of T r a n s p o r t

J . W . Grainge

-

Department of N a t i o n a l H e a l t h and Welfare

J . A . P i h l a i n e n

-

N a t i o n a l Research Council

The Survey Team l e f t Aklavik d u r i n g t h e a f t e r n o o n of J u l y 10 on a d i r e c t r o u t e t o Coppermine in t h e Wardair " O t t e r " p i l o t e d by lhax Ward. Poor t l y ~ n g weather grounded t h e p a r t y a t P o r t Radium and i t was n o t u n t i l t h e morning of J u l y 12 t h a t

Coppermine was r e a c h e d . Four days were s p e n t on a ground r e c o n n a i s - sance of t h e Tree and Coppermine a r e a s and t h e p a r t y a r r i v e d back t o Aklavik d u r i n g e a r l y morning of J u l y 16.

The problem of Coppermine h a s a l r e a d y been reviewed by t h e Department of Northern A f f a i r s and N a t i o n a l Resources i n t h e i r Unclassified.Document ND-90 ( s e e Appendix 1 ) . The purpose of t h i s r e p Q r t i s t o r e c o r d t h e s o i l and p e r m a f r o s t d a t a t h a t were c o l l e c t e d i n a n a p p r a i s a l of t h e two l o c a t i o n s , Tree R i v e r and Coppermine. I n a p r e l i m i n a r y reconnaissance of t h i s k i n d , r e l a t i v e l y few s o i l samples a r e t a k e n and t e s t r e s u l t s a r e i n c l u d e d merely t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e s o i l t y p e s e n c o u n t e r e d .

SOILS OF THE COPPERMINE RIVER REGION

The s o i l s i n t h e Coppermine R i v e r r e g i o n w i l l be d e s c r i b e d from a n " o r i g i n " p r "mode of d e p o s i t i o n " p o i n t of view e x c e p t i n

t h e s e t t l e m e n t a r e a . T h i s a r e a i s of p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t i n r e l a t i o n t o any proposed new c o n s t r u c t i o n and s o i t s s o i l s w i l l be d e s c r i b e d s e p a r a t e l y . 0tfier d i s t i n c t i v e s o i l a r e a s of t h e r e g i o n a r e t h e beach r i d g e s west of t h e s e t t l e m e n t , " o l d " Coppermine R i v e r d e l t a d e p o s i t s and " r e c e n t

"

Coppermine R i v e r d e p o s i t s ( F i g . 1 ) .

S e t t l e m e n t Area

The s o i l i n t h e Coppermine s e t t l e m e n t a r e a i s a brown, mediwn s i z e d , beach sand which was thawed t o a n a v e r a g e d e p t h of 2

f e e t on J u l y 15, 1954. Most of t h e b u i l d i n g s i n t h e s e t t l e m e n t a r e on t h e crown of a beach r i d g e and a low, wet marsh e x i s t s behind

them. Organic c o v e r c o n s i s t s predominantly of g r a s s and moss which r e s u l t s i n a n 8 - i n c h a v e r a g e c o v e r over t h e beach sand. The beach sand t e r m i n a t e s w i t h t h e bedrock behind ( o r s o u t h ) of t h e s e t t l e m e n t . Examination of a 4 - f o o t p i t e x c a v a t i o n n e a r t h e Department of T r a n s p o r t r e s i d e n c e ( o l d M . D , ) showed t h e sand t o be f r e e from i c e s e g r e g a t i o n . No b u i l d i n g f a i l u r e s due t o f r o s t a c t i o n o r p e r m a f r o s t were r e p o r t e d o r observed.

Beach Ridges West of S e t t l e m e n t

Prominent beach r i d g e s which e x t e n d i n l a n d a s f a r a s

3

m i l e s a r e found approximately 2 m i l e s west of t h e s e t t l e m e n t ( F i g . 2 ) . They a p p e a r from t h e a i r o r on a i r photographs a s a s e r i e s of v e r y low p a r a l l e l r i d g e s which t r a c e t h e p a s t o u t l i n e of t h e bay. On t h e ground t h e y a p p e a r a s s t e p s from one t o f i v e f e e t h i g h w i t h " s w a l e - l i k e " o r marshy a r e a s i n t e r r u p t i n g each r i s e t o h i g h e r e l e v a t i o n ( F i g .

3 ) .

Ground r e c o n n a i s s a n c e of t h e beach r i d g e a r e a l e a d s t o t h e b e l i e f t h a t t h e beach r i d e s a n d s were d e p o s i t e d o v e r a marine c l a y . T h i s marine g r e y c l a y

7

F i g . 4 ) i s exposed on t h e r e l a t i v e l y h i g h e r r o c k o u t c r o p s and i n some of t h e e a s t e r n g u l l i e s which have c u t through t h e beach d e p o s i t s ( F i g . 5 ) . The beach r i d g e d e p o s i t s a r e a medium s i z e d brown'sand s i m i l a r t o t h a t found i n t h e s e t t l e m e n t a r e a . The d e p t h t o f r o z e n ground v a r i e s w i t h o r g a n i c c o v e r but i n no c a s e was i t found t o exceed 2 f e e t ( J u l y . 1 5 , 1 9 5 4 ) .

The g r e y c o l o u r t o n e on a i r photographs of t h e beach r i d g e a r e a i s l i g h t e r on t h e w e s t e r n s i d e which s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e s a n d s t h e r e may be b e t t e r d r a i n e d o r have d e e p e r d e p o s i t s . Time d i d not p e r m i t a check of t h i s p o i n t .

"OLD" Coppermine R i v e r D e l t a D e p o s i t s

Another prominent f e a t u r e on a i r photographs i s t h e

d i s t i n c t i v e " o l d " Coppermine R i v e r d e l t a p a t t e r n found s o u t h of t h e p r e s e n t s e t t l e m e n t and on t h e e a s t e r n s i d e of t h e r i v e r n e a r i t s mouth. The a r e a i s c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a l a r g e f l a t a r e a , pock-marked w i t h randomly o r i e n t e d o l d channel s c a r s . These o l d channel s c a r s a r e s m a l l l o c a l hollows which a r e w e t t e r t h a n t h e s u r r o u n d i n g s and have a d e e p e r o r g a n i c c o v e r . The s o i l i n t h e a r e a was found t o v a r y from a f i n e t o c o a r s e brown sand w i t h small amounts of decomposed, f l a k e y , o r g a n i c m a t e r i a l . The d e p t h of thawed s o i l ranged from 1 t o

2 f e e t depending on t h e o r g a n i c c o v e r . P r e s e n t Coppermine R i v e r D e p o s i t s

_--

The l o n g s a n d b a r on t h e Coppermine R i v e r s o u t h of t h e s e t t l e m e n t was v i s i t e d s i n c e i t had been c o n s i d e r e d a s a p o t e n t i a l a i r s t r i p s i t e i n t h e p a s t . The s o i l was found t o be a f i n e t o

medium s i z e d brown sand w i t h shallow p o c k e t s of sandy g r a v e l ( s t o n e s up t o

14

i n c h e s ) . Also n o t e d on t h e s a n d b a r were some i c e - b o r n e e r r a t i c s up t o 3 f e e t i n d i a m e t e r ( F i g s . 6 and 7 ) .

SOILS OF THE TREE RIVER REGION

Tree R i v e r , approximately 80 m i l e s e a s t of Coppermine, empties i n t o a l a r g e and s h e l t e r e d bay. B u i l d i n g s i t e s i n t h e r e g i o n a r e c o n f i n e d t o s o u r c e s of f r e s h w a t e r . Accordingly, s o i l and permafrost i n v e s t i g a t i o n s were c a r r i e d out a t t h e west end of t h e bay and on an a r e a a d j a c e n t t o t h e Tree R i v e r ( F i g . 8 ) .

West End of Tree R i v e r Bay

An e x c e l l e n t s o u r c e of w a t e r i n t h e wet end of Tree R i v e r Bay i s a l a r g e f r e s h w a t e r l a k e approximately 1 , 0 0 0 y a r d s west of t h e Bay ( F i g s . and 1 0 ) . The predominant s o i l i n t h e a r e a i s a g r e y marine c l a y . Rock o u t c r o p s i n t h e a r e a a r e numerous and have been

i d e n t i f i e d as Epworth l i m e s t o n e because of a d i s t i n c t i v e cup and b a l l " a l g a l " s t r u c t u r e . S o i l c o v e r o v e r p a r e n t Sedrock v a r i e s from none t o d e p o s i t s a t l e a s t 60 f e e t deep. The d e e p e r s o i l d e p o s i t s a r e c h a r a c t e r c h a r a c t e r i z e d by much slumping and many i n s t a n c e s of a c t u a l s o i l f l o w s were n o t e d . " F r o s t " o r "mud b o i l s " were a l s o v e r y abundant i n t h e marine c l a y , ( F i g s . 11 and 1 2 ) .

Tree R i v e r "Benches

"

Three f l a t t e r r a c e - l i k e benches on t h e e a s t s i d e of Tree R i v e r were i n v e s t i g a t e d . F o s convenience t h e y were numbered Bench

No. 1, 2 , and 3 s t a r t i n g from t h e mouth of t h e r i v e r . The f i r s t bench,

1

5 m i l e from t h e mouth of Tree R i v e r i s approximately 30 f e e t above t h e r i v e r l e v e l . The s o i l on t h i s bench i s a medium brown sand w i t h some o r g a n i c m a t e r i a l thawed t o a d e p t h a v e r a g i n g 18 i n c h e s on J u l y 1 4 .

The second and t h i r d benches, a v e r a g i n g approximately 50 f e e t above t h e r i v e s l e v e l , were found t o have s i m i l a r s o i l s ; reY medium p l a s t i c c l a y w i t h random b l o t c h e s of l i g h t brown ( F i g . ?3y0

Two " d r w n l i n o i d a l " h i l l s west of Bench No,

3

were examined as a p o s s i b l e source of m a t e r i a l s . The s o i l was a brown s i l t c l a y w i t h some a n g u l a r and subrounded s t o n e s up t o 4 i n c h e s i n d i a m e t e r . Mud o r f r o s t b o i l s were numerous on t h e s e benches.

CONCLUS IONS Coppermine R i v e r Area

(1) Apart from t h e l a c k of h a r b o u r f a c i l i t i e s , d i f f i c u l t i e s of s e t t l e m e n t i n t h e Coppermine R i v e r a r e a a r e n o t t o o e v i d e n t ;

( 2 ) The f r o z e n sand w i t h no i c e s e g r e g a t i o n o f f e r s no unusual c o n s t r u c t i o n problems e x c e p t p o s s i b l e e r o s i o n ;

( 3 )

Expansion of t h e s e t t l e m e n t t o t h e s o u t h should n o t be impeded by r o c k o r t h e low marshy a r e a . C o n s t r u c t i o n i s p o s s i b l e i f

t h e low marsh i s d r a i n e d ( w i t h p r e c a u t i o n s a g a i n s t e r o s i o n ) o r f i l l e d i n w i t h sand pumped from t h e beach;

( 4 ) The b e s t a i r s t r i p l o c a t i o n i n t h e a r e a i s thought t o be on t h e beach r i d g e a r e a west of t h e s e t t l e m e n t . The p o s s i b i l i t y of a sand-clay wearing s u r f a c e should be i n v e s t i g a t e d ;

( 5 ) An a i r s t r i p on t h e l a r g e sandbar of t h e Coppermine R i v e r could be s u b j e c t t o s e v e r e i c e damage d u r i n g break-up a s evidence? by t h e l a r g e i c e - b o r n e e r r a t i c s found on the

bar. A n a i r s t r i p on t h e e a s t s i d e of t h e Coppermine would be I s o l a t e d d u r i n g break-up and f r e e z e - u p ;

( 6 )

An e x c e l l e n t w a t e r supply e x i s t s i n t h e Coppermine R i v e r , one m i l e from t h e s e t t l e m e n t and a p r o p o s a l t o p i p e

w a t e r t o t h e s e t t l e m e n t h a s a l r e a d y been made by t h e Department of T r a n s p o r t ;

( 7 )

P u b l i c h e a l t h h a z a r d s imsosed l a r g e l y by n a t i v e s e t t l e m e n t appeared t c be w e l l under c o n t r o l and t h e s e t t l e m e n t was much c l e a n e r t h a n any o t h e r a r c t i c community t h e w r i t e r h a s had t h e p r i v i l e g e t o v i s i t .

Tree R i v e r Area

(1) Tree R i v e r Bay o f f e r s a n e x c e l l e n t s h e l t e r e d h a r b o u r ; ( 2 ) The west end of t h e bay o f f e r s a s u i t a b l e b u i l d i n g area

(where t h e d e p t h t o bedrock i s n o t e x c e s s i v e ) a l t h o u g h t h e l a c k of m a t e r i a l s g r e a t l y hampers t h e s i t e ;

( 3 )

No a r e a l a r g e enough f o r a n a i r s t r i p c o u l d be l o c a t e d a t t h e west end of t h e bay;

( 4 ) The fl.rst sandy bench of t h e Tree R i v e r o f f e r s a p o t e n t i a l s i t e f o r t h e s e t t l e m e n t but does n o t a p p e a r t o be l a r g e enough f o r an a i r s t r i p ;

( 5 ) Because of t h e l a c k of s u i t a b l e f i l l , no c o n s t r u c t i o n i s

APPENDIX A

UN CLASS

IF

IED DOCUMENT MD-90

MEMORANDUM FOR

THE

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT:

THE PROBLEM OF

COPPERMINE

The Advisory Committee on Northern Development at its meeting on September 14, 1953, considered the suitability of the present location of Coppermine. The Chairman reported that

following a proposal to establish a tent hostel for school children .

at Coppermine, a public health engineer had surveyed the settlement. His report showed very unsatisfactory health and sanitary conditions

arising from the present site and indicated that future growth would

aggravate these conditionso It seemed possible that a situation

similar to that at Aklavik could develop. The Committee recommended

that Coppermine be moved to a more suitable location and that an investigation be made as soon as possible to determine the best

alternative site. At its meeting on November 23, 1953, the Committee was informed that the site survey would be carried out during the

spring and early summer of 1954.

The attached paper reviews the situation at Coppermine for the information of the Committee, and the siting party. It outlines the functions of the settlement, the disadvantages of the

present location, and the prospects of findirg a suitable alternative

site.

It is recommended that:

(a) The site survey team examine the Tree River area, in addition to the country surrounding the present settlement, for suitable sites.

(b) If a more suitable site can be found in the Tree

River area, consideration be given to the transfer

of federal activities to this site.

G .

W.

Rowley, Secretary. Department of Northern Affairs

and National Resources, March 16, 1954.

THE PROBLEM OF COPPERMINE L o c a t i o n and F u n c t i o n s of C o ~ ~ e r m i n e

Coppermine i s s i t u a t e d a t t h e mouth of t h e Coppermine R i v e r a t t h e s o u t h w e s t e r n end of Coronation G u l f . It i s t h e t r a d i n g

c e n t r e f o r a n a r e a r u n n i n g r o u g h l y 200 m i l e s s o u t h and 100 m i l e s

e a s t . Three departments of t h e f e d e r a l government have e s t a b l i s h m e n t s t h e r e as w e l l a s t h e Hudson's Bay Company and both Anglican and

Roman C a t h o l i c M i s s i o n s .

The permanent p o p u l a t i o n of Coppermine i s about 75 t o

85;

of t h e s e some 20 a r e w h i t e and t h e r e s t Eskimo. I n t h e w i n t e r of 1952-53, when a c a r i b o u herd ranged n e a r b y , about 200 n a t i v e s l i v e d w i t h i n o r n e a r t h e s e t t l e m e n t . I n l a n d Eskimos v i s i t i n g t h e s e t t l e m e n t

t o t r a d e , t o engage i n s e a l i n g , and f o r o t h e r p u r p o s e s , v a r y i n numbers a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s e a s o n . The p o p u l a t i o n of t h e whole a r e a , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e l i v i n g a t o r t r a d i n g i n t o Coppermine, i s about 275. Few Eskimos a r e found i n t h e a r e a west of t h e s e t t l e m e n t , most l i v i n g t o t h e s o u t h and e a s t .

The c h i e f economic a c t i v i t y i n t h e a r e a i s f u r t r a p p i n g . The a n n u a l v a l u e of t h e f u r c a t c h v a r i e s widely; i n a r e c e n t good y e a r i t amounted t o $22,000, o r a b o u t 75 p e r c e n t of t h e money income of t h e Eskimo p o p u l a t i o n , b u t i t i s normally c o n s i d e r a b l y l e s s , The o n l y s i g n i f i c a n t commercial f u r i s w h i t e f o x .

Other economic a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e a r e a i n c l u d e c a r i b o u h u n t i n g , f i s h i n g and s e a l i n g , a l l s e a s o n a l a c t i v i t i e s f o r l o c a l

consumption, and h a n d i c r a f t s . Caribou a r e v i t a l t o t h e n a t i v e economy and a r e u s u a l l y p l e n t i f u l , but t h e i r numbers i n any y e a r depend on t h e m i g r a t i o n r o u t e s t h e y u s e . From t h e Coppermine R i v e r come A r c t i c c h a r and w h i t e f i s h , and t h e s e a y i e l d s f a i r numbers of s e a l s , The making of h a n d i c r a f t s , mostly of s o a p s t o n e , h a s grown i n r e c e n t y e a r s ;

i n 1953, about $3,000 worth were produced,

The f e d e r a l government i s r e p r e s e n t e d i n Coppermine as f o l l o w s . The Department of T r a n s p o r t m a i n t a i n s a r a d i o s o n d e meteoro- l o g i c a l s t a t i o n ; t h e R.C.M.P. a two-man detachment; and Northern A f f a i r s

a two-room s c h o o l and a n u r s i n g s t a t i o n . The s c h o o l , which can accommodate 40 p u p i l s , now h a s 1 6 , i n c l u d i n g one w h i t e ; t h e o n l y

Eskimos a t t e n d i n g i t a r e c h i l d r e n of Coppermine r e s i d e n t s . P l a n s a r e a f o o t , however, t o have a t e n t h o s t e l , sponsored by t h e Anglican

Mission and Northern A f f a i r s , i n o p e r a t i o n by 1955 i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e p a r t - t i m e s c h o o l i n g f o r i n l a n d Eskimo c h i l d r e n , The n u r s i n g s t a t i o n h a s a ward a i d i n c h a r g e , and t h e d o c t o r from Port Radium makes monthly v i s i t s . Government employees and t h e i r f a m i l i e s make up h a l f of t h e

s e t t l e m e n t ' s w h i t e p o p u l a t i o n . The Roman C a t h o l i c and Anglican Missions have churches a t Coppermine.

Two s h i p s supply t h e s e t t l e m e n t d u r i n g t h e n a v i g a t i o n season of l e s s t h a n two months, t h e Hudson's Bay Company's motor v e s s e l F o r t Hearne and t h e s m a l l e r Roman C a t h o l i c mission schooner Lady of Lourdes. These s h i p s load a t Tuktoyaktuk and u s u a l l y l e a v e on t h e i r f i r s t t r i p d u r i n g t h e l a s t week of J u l y . Supply s h i p s t o Cambridge Bay, Spence Bay and B a t h u r s t I n l e t r a r e l y c a l l a t Coppermine because i t i s off t h e d i r e c t r o u t e , A i r c r a f t may land on s k i s o r

f l o a t s throughout t h e y e a r except d u r i n g break-up and f r e e z e - u p .

Coppermine i s e a s i l y l o c a t e d by a i r c r a f t f l y i n g from Port Radium, a s t h e Coppermine River forms an e x c e l l e n t landmark, The s e t t l e m e n t i s , however, o f f t h e t r a c k of a i r c r a f t f l y i n g between Port Radium o r

Yellowknife and Cambridge Bay. H i s t o r y of t h e S e t t l e m e n t

The f i r s t p o s t i n t h e Coronation Gulf a r e a was e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1916 a t Bernard Harbour, followed two y e a r s l a t e r by p o s t s a t Tree River and

on

Kent Peninsula. These p o s t s , a l o n g w i t h s e v e r a l

l a t e r ones, were abandoned some y e a r s ago, being r e p l a c e d by t h e s e t t l e m e n t of Coppermine. There has been a p o s t a t B a t h u r s t I n l e t s i n c e 1925.

The f i r s t permanent e s t a b l i s h m e n t a t Coppermine was t h e Anglican Mission b u i l t i n 1928, The Hudson's Bay Company opened i t s

s t o r e i n 1930, t h e R.C.M.P.. detachment followed i n 1931 and t h e m e t e o r o l o g i c a l s t a t i o n i n 1932, Because Eskimos congregated a t t h e

r i v e r mouth f o r 1 . t ~ good f i s h i n g and i t s proximity t o t h e cari.bou m i g r a t i o n r o u t e s , t h e s i t e was convenient f o r m i s s i o n s , t r a d i n g p o s t

and p o l i c e . Proximity t o Great Bear Lake f o r a i r c r a f t cornmunicatfon was a c o n t r i b u t o r y f a c t o r , The m e t e o r o l o g i c a l s t a t i o n was l o c a t e d

a t t h e s e t t l e m e n t f o r e a s e of supp1.y and f o r s o c i a l purposes.

The p r e s e n t s e t t l e m e n t s t r e t c h e s a l o n g h a l f a m i l e of t h e c o a s t immediately west of t h e mouth oC t h e Coppermine R i v e r , Most of t h e b u i l d i n g s a r e a d j a c e n t t o t h e s h o r e , on a low, sandy t e r r a c e . From them t h e school and n u r s i n g s t a t i o n a r e s e p a r a t e d by a swampy a r e a . F a r t h e r west i s t h e radiosonde s t a t i o n by a rocky a l o p e . Disadvantages and Problems of t h e S i t e

The p r e s e n t s i t e of Coppermine has no s p e c i a l p h y s i c a l advantages, and has s e r i o u s d e f e c t s . While high-grade copper has been d i s c o v e r e d upstream, v e r y l i m i t e d q u a n t i t i e s have s o f a r been found and t h e r e i s no known commercial p o s s i b i l i t y i n t h e a r e a

under c u r r e n t c o n d i t i o n s . A s a f i s h i n g ground, t h e Coppermine R i v e r shows s i g n s of d e p l e t i o n , and may be e x c e l l e d by o t h e r s , n o t a b l y Tree River. The s i t e i s w e l l l o c a t e d f o r a i r c r a f t communication, but i t s comparative advantage i n t h i s r e s p e c t h a s d e c l i n e d w i t h t h e expansion and improvement of a i r c r a f t communication w i t h t h e A r c t i c .

The d i s a d v a n t a g e s of t h e s i t e a r e numerous and i m p o r t a n t . They i n c l u d e : problems of f r e s h w a t e r supply and sewage and garbage d i s p o s a l , bank e r o s i o n , no harbour, l a c k of room f o r expansion, and no s u i t a b l e t e r r a i n f o r an a i r s t r i p . These problems w i l l become more a c u t e w i t h t h e growth of Coppermine.

Water ;n;p;y *

-

The shore water is frequently salty and

in auramer wa er o be obtained by boat from nearly a mile

upstream, brought to the settlement in barrels, and then carried in pails to the houses. This method of handling which is usually entrusted to the natives is a major source of contamination, The rocky terrain upstream from Coppermine makes it impossible to introduce truck transport. There is no possibility of installing a pumping system for summer use. In winter, ice is out anywhere in the river and hauled in by dog team; its handling too can be a

source of contamination. A year-round underground water and sewage

system would never be feasible at the site,

Sewage and garbage disposal.- This is a serious problem, owing to the swamp area in the settlement, poor drainage, the

layout of Coppermine, and the shallow sea shore from which sewage

is not always carried away quickly by currents and winds. In slulanmep,

sewage and garbage are taken by boat as far out as 2 miles and

dumped, and in winter are deposited on the ice off the river mouth, Wash water from some establishment is drained away by ditches emptying

into the Gulf. Refuse from the Eskimo population is usually deposited near their tents, with a general clean-up carried out each spring, supervised by the police. There is little space in the camping area for the Eskimo to use for digging pits for the disposal of waste, The present situation is a public health hazard and the problem will be intensified with the establishment of the tent hostel for the school,

Bank erosion.- The sandy bank of the shoreline fronting

Coronation Gulf is being eroded by wave action and alwnping, and may,

in a few years, endanger the buildings of the Hudson's Bay Company and the Anglican Mission.

Harbourage.- Shallow water prevents supply vessels from

anchoring closer than about

3

miles out. This is a serious disadvan-

tage, because all supplies must be lightered from ship to shore. Unloading must be carried out as quickly as possible at settlements along the western Arctic coast because of the short navigation season. Coppermine is exposed to winds from the north and northwest off

Coronation Gulf and to waves beating directly onshore with no protecting islands except toward the east, The approach of bad weather calls a halt to unloading, often forcing a vessel to raise anchor and seek the dubious shelter of the low islands east of the river mouth.

Lack of room for expansion.- The swamp in the central part of the settlement and the bare rocky slopes to the south and west prevent further expansion. The construction of the present school

and nursing station was expensive and difficult, because all materials9 including gravel, had to be brought from the shore, Annual supplies for these outlying establishments must also be hauled a conaiderable distance, There are no roads or vehicles at Coppermine, and any further building will face the same problems.

The swamp between the school and the buildings along the shore drains to the Gulf via several small gullies. These have

enlarged considerably since the settlement was,established, further

Lack of a i r s t r i p s i t e , - No s u i t a b l e a r e a f o r a n a l l - y e a r a i r s t r i p e x i s t s on t h e weat s i d e of t h e Coppermine R i v e r ,

Coppermine can be v i s i t e d by s k i a i r c r a f t from about November t o e a r l y J u n e , and by f l o a t a i r c r a f t from J u l y t o e a r l y October, Break-up and f r e e z e - u p p e r i o d s l e a v e t h e s e t t l e m e n t e n t i s e l y c u t o f f .

Coppermine h a s no unique a s s e t s t o compensate t o any s i g n i f i c a n t e x t e n t for t h e s e g r e a t d i s a d v a n t a g e s . It l i e s t o o f a r west t o Be a n a t u r a l c e n t r a l p o i n t f o r t h e n a t i v e p o p u l a t i o n i t

s e r v e s . It has no s p e c i a l advantage from t h e s t a n d p o i n t of admini- s t r a t i o n o r of the economic a c t i v i t i e s c a r r i e d on I n t h e a r e a .

Caribou a r e r e p o r t e d abundant f a r t h e r e a s t , and f i s h and s e a l s more p l e n t i f u l t h a n a t Coppermire; and t h e s e a r e m a i n s t a y s of t h e Eskimo p o p u l a t i o n . The nsighbourhood l i k e w i s e e n j o y s no a p e c l a l f a v o u r a s a f u r - t r a p p i n g a r e a , P o s s i b i l i t y of S u i t a b l e A l t e r n a t i v e S i t e Although a d e t a i l e d s u r v e y would be r e q u i r e d t o d e t e r r n i ~ e t h e most s u i t a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e s i t e , a u t h o r i t i e s f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e a r e a a g r e e t h a t a s a t i s f a c t o r y l o c a t i o n could be formd, One s u g g e s t i o n i s t h a t t h e s e t t l e m e n t be moved a d i s t a n c e of two t o t h r e e m i l e s a c r o s s t o t h e e a s t bank of t h e Ccppermine R i v e r , e i t h e r h a l f a m i l e upstream o r f a c i n g Coronation Gulf behind t h e low i s l a n d s e a s t of t h e r i v e r mouth, These s i t e s o f f e r advantages of t e r r a i n and s o i l c o n d i t i o n s s w a t e r s i ~ p p l y and sewage d i s p o s a l s and p e r h a p s a n a r e a l a r g e enough f o r a n a f r a t r l p , b u t provlde l i t t l e

improvement i n harbourage and l i g h t e r i n g o v e r t h e p r e s e n t s i t e ,

Another p o s s i b i l i t y i s Tree R i v e r ( p o r t Epworth), 90 m i l e s e a s t of Coppemlne, It h a s a w e l l - s h s l t l e r e d h a r b o u r , wide and deep enough f o r ocean-going v e s s e l s . I t s o t h e r a d v a n t a g e s i n c l u d e ; good w a t e r supply; s u i t a b l e terkain f o ~ c o n s t r u c t i o n ; good p o s s i b i l i t y of

development of a n a i r s t r i p ; adequate room f o p expansion; no p ~ o b l e m of bank e r o s i o n , A i m r a f t f l y i n g between P o r t Radium and Cambridge

Bay p a s s d i r e c t . 1 ~ over t h e s e t t l e m e n t , Tree R i v e r i s n o t d i f f i c u l t t o l o c a t e from t h e s e a , and s u p p l y s h i p s would have no f a r t h e r t o t r a v e l from Tuktuk t h a n t h e y now'have t o Coppermine, It would be as c e n t r a l t o t h e p o p u l a t i o n s e r v e d as t h e p r e s e n t s e t t l e m e n t of Coppermine.

A t p r e s e n t s e v e r a l Eskimo f a m i l i e s l i v e a t Tree R i v e r , which o f f e r s good f i s h i n g and i s n e a r t h e c a r i b o u m i g r a t i o n r o u t e

s o u t h e a s t toward B a t h u r s t I n l e t , S e a l a r e more p l e n t i f u l t h a n a t t h e west end of Coronation G u l f . The a r e a h a s p o s s i b i l i t i e s a l n o f o r a r e i n d e e r h e r d .

Tree R i v e r does n o t a p p e a r t o be as w e l l l o c a t e d a s

Coppermine w i t h r e s p e c t t o m l n e r a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s a s i t l i e s a t t h e edge, r a t h e r t h a n i n t h e middle, of an a r e a where t h e geology i s

f a v o u r a b l e , On t h e o t h e r hand l i t t l e work h a s been done i n t h e T ~ e e R i v e r r e g i o n , w h i l e t h e 3hore c o n d i t i o n s a t Coppermine would p r e v e n t

There a r e d i s a d v a n t a g e s i n moving t h e m e t e o r o l o g i c a l s t a t i o n a s t h e o b s e r v a t i o n s a t Coppermine extend back f o r o v e r 20 y e a r s , but t h e c o n t i n u i t y of t h e r e c o r d s would be broken by even a s h o r t move of t h e s t a t i o n ,

The Cost of R e l o c a t i n a Comermine

The f i x e d investment i n Coppermine i s almost e n t i r e l y i n b u i l d i n g s , moat of them s m a l l . Theac b u i l d i n g s i n c l u d e about t e n d w e l l i n g s , f i f t e e n warehouses and s h e d s , two c h u r c h e s , a s c h o o l , a s t o r e , and D . O . T . s t a t i o n s . Resident Eskimos l i v e i n crude shacks and t e n t s . Roughly h a l f of t h e investment i s i n f e d e r a l government b u i l d i n g s . It i s b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e s e t t l e m e n t could be moved o v e r t h e s e a i c e i n w i n t e r t o a new s i t e , t h e

p r i n c i p a l problem being t o s h i p i n t h e n e c e s s a r y equipment f o r t h e move. The a c t u a l moving c o q t s can only be e s t i m a t e d f o l l o w i n g a

d e t a i l e d survey but t h e y should n o t be h i g h and s u b s t a n t i a l advantages would a c c r u e from having a c e n t r a l i z e d , well-planned s e t t l e m e n t ,

The c o s t of moving Coppermine w i l l r i s e i n f u t u r e , L a s t

summer t h e Department of T r a n s p o r t brought i n t h e lumber f o r a

c o n s t r u c t i o n program t h i s y e a r which i s t.0 i n c l u d e an 8-man b a r r a c k s and mess, two p r e f a b r i c a t e d b u i l d i n g s t o s e r v e a s power houses and a t r a c t o r g a r a g e , t h e c o n v e r s i o n of i t s radiosonde b u i l d i n g t o a d w e l l i n g , and t h e c o n v e r s i o n of a r a d i o communications b u i l d i n g t o a rawinsonde b u i l d i n g . The t e n t h o s t e l planned f o r 1455 w i l l r e q u i r e a b u i l d i n g c o n t a i n i n g k i t c h e n and e a t i n g f a c i l i t i e s , a wash house, and i n time perhaps a d d i t i o n a l s c h o o l accommodation,

Conclusion

A t i t s p r e s e n t s i t e Coppermine f a c e s s e r i o u s problems of w a t e r supply and sewage d i s p o s a l which i t s growth would r e n d e r

more a c u t e . There a r e o t h e r g r a v e d i s a d v a n t a g e s i n t h e l o c a t i o n

--

l a c k of room f o r . e x p a n s i o n , a poor h a r b o u r , l a c k of an a i r s t r i p s i t e , bank e r o s i o n

- -

t h a t cannot be overcome. The s e t t l e m e n t can

be moved a t a r e a s o n a b l e c o s t but t h i s c o s t w i l l i n c r e a s e a s a d d i t i o n a l c o n s t r u c t i o n t a k e s p l a c e .

Recommendations

It i s t h e r e f o r e recommended t h a t :

( a ) The s i t e survey team examine t h e Tree R i v e r a r e a , i n

a d d i t i o n t o t h e c o u n t r y s u r r o u n d i n g t h e p r e s e n t s e t t l e m e n t , f o r s u i t a b l e s i t e s .

( b ) If a more s u i t a b l e s i t e can be found i n t h e Tree RiveF a r e a , c o n s i d e r a t i o n be given t o t h e t r a n s f e r of f e d e r a l a c t i v i t i e s t o t h i s s i t e ,

F i g . 2

-

The saatem fringe of beach ridgesp e a s t

of

Coppernine ~ o n ~ i ~ t of " f ~ r o w s " ~

6

_inches

t o 1 f o o t deep running parallel

to the bay and spaced approxi-

mately

3

feet

apart. The

"PWFOWS" BrFe &3 ~ e ~ f t ? ~ 0f $FOB%

b o i l s w i t h

frozen

ground 2

feet

below t h e

c e n t r e of

%he b o i l .

F i g .

3

-

View

sf prominent beach ridge east of Coppernine. Soil in ewale (at probe) fa

4

inches of wet black decomposed organic

m t e r i a P P then

a

medim-sized eand

frozen

at a de th of 2 Feet.

Ridge

(at

pack sac i a apprsxi-

ma%ely 1 f o o t higher and has

6

inches

sf

~elatfvsly dry organie

matter9

then

a

medim-sfzed sand. Depth to

frost

on

the

ridge ie

12 inches.

Fig. 4

-

5 ~ o k f n g south t o _Coronation Gulf

near the junction of beach ridge

and marine

clay deposits. Sand

area

has

a

graaa cover and a high

water

table. Clay

area

%a characterized by clay boBlap m d _{patches of reindeer}

moss.

F i g .

5

-

Clay boil surromded by m e d i m - s f z e d sand in $%pet large g u l l e y

to sea east of C o p e ~ m i n e , Sand has an

organic eover of

g

inches and is thawed

to

6

inehea, Exposed slay boil is k ~ w e d

to a depth of 18 inches.

(BR

3867)

Fig.

6

-

Recent

deposits of the Coppernine Rfver. This large island ia separa-

ted from the upland (old delta d e p o s i t s ) by a slough.

Big,

₉

-

General v i e w of sandbar

on

Coppernine River which has

been

g~opssed

as

a pstentfal airstrip. S o i l s v a r y from f i n e sand8 $0

patches

of

gravel.

P i g .

-

Looking s a ~ t at

Tree River

Bay with %be f m s h water lake at the right.

A

potential tovnsite 2. _{located in} tho neck of land between theae two bodies of water.

(BR

3073A. B I

C )

F i g * 80

-

_{Wweral V l e w} 0% P o t e n t i a l

Tomrite at the west end sf Tree River

Bag. Outesops ass mworth L%me~tenes

and the ~ o i H c o v e r is a marine clap sf l w p l a s t i c i t y .

(BR

3077)

F i g . $1

-

Clay bolls

on

the p o t e n t i a l

sLte west of Tree R i v e r Bay.

Fig. 12

-

S o i l slump and f l o w on %he west end of Tree Rfver Bag,

The soil 1s of "fntemedia%e"