IntroductionNunavut Nukkiksautiit Corporation (NNC) plans to collect river current data at McKeand River South, 60km Northeast of Iqaluit. This is a part of the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) stage of investigating the potential for community scale hydroelectric project in Iqaluit. This location was determined in a community vote by Iqalungmiut. The Qikiqtani Inuit Association has also approved support for further investigation of a potential hydroelectric project at this location through a FEED Study. Analysis from a QIA-led Tusaqtavut Study showed that the site at Kuugaluk River had zero reported values in the categories of cultural continuity, fishing and fresh water resource use, marine harvesting, terrestrial harvesting, travel trails and habitation. Based on these factors and support from Iqalungmiut, NNC is continuing to investigate the potential for waterpower at this location. NNC has contracted Sea to Sky Energy Solutions (SSES) to complete the design, installations and monitoring of the two hydrometric stations.TimelineNNC is aiming to start collecting data this calendar year. To do this, the two hydrometric monitoring systems will be installed in the fall of 2024;, pending approval and procurement of materials, the installation will take place in early October 2024. These monitoring stations will operate for a one-year period, and the two monitoring systems will be decommissioned and removed from the site in the fall of 2025. The processing and analysis of the collected data will be finalized in a report by January 2026.Project MethodologyIn the fall of 2024, the SSES design team will visit the McKeand River South site to install the two Fathom AutoSalt hydrometric monitoring systems. The team will camp out at the site with a local guide and this initial installation period will last 10-14 days. Once these stations are installed, data will be collected remotely via satellite technology. During the one-year period of data collection additional site visits may be required to amend any equipment, such as in the spring when the river thaws. One year following the deployment of these systems the team will return to the site to decommission the monitoring devices and remove all equipment from the site.All data collected will be analyzed to determine the flow rates and the feasibility of waterpower at this location. This data will be included in the final report of this monitoring project.Environmental, Social and Wildlife InteractionsBased on QIA’s Tusaqtavut Study, Kuugaluk River had no identified areas of land use and cultural activities. The deployment of two hydrometric monitoring systems will have no environmental, social or wildlife impacts as the equipment is temporary and non-invasive.Data ManagementThe Fathom’s AutoSalt systems will transmit data via satellite, this data will be collected, analyzed and summarized in a report by SSES. The raw data as well as the analyzed data from the report will be reported back to NNC.Local BenefitsThis data collection is necessary to determine the feasibility of waterpower in Iqaluit. This data collection will provide the data needed to move forward with a community scale hydroelectric project, which has the potential to significantly reduce the city’s diesel reliance and consumption. This hydroelectric project, if constructed, also has the potential to ultimately result in health and environmental benefits, decreased cost of power and investing our current diesel expenses into the local economy and providing more local job opportunities.Distribution of ResultsAll results will be summarized and available in the final report of this data collection project as well as in the phase 3 decision support package for the Iqaluit Nukkiksautiit project.