Notice to residents regarding the Hidden Lakes trails

Whitehorse – The City’s trails crew will be out in the Hidden Lakes area today to remove debris, and ensure the impacted trails are as safe as possible for recreational use over the weekend. Trail users are asked to exercise caution as the ground of the impacted trails remains loose.

Work will also resume today to finish installing groundwater monitoring wells in the Hidden Lakes area; however, the work will not include the same level of equipment and machinery that resulted in the significant impact to the trails earlier this week. The work will involve the use of a drill rig and skid steer, and will be completed by Saturday evening.

No further trail modifications will happen, and remediation of the trails will begin once the installations are complete.

Please exercise caution, and keep your distance from equipment and operations.

As a part of the City’s groundwater protection plan, the City is installing groundwater monitoring wells at key locations in the aquifer (see map below). The purpose of these wells is to increase our understanding of water quality, and ensure the protection of the Selkirk Aquifer, which is the City’s main supply of drinking water.

We recognize the significant role that our trails and wilderness have to our community’s well-being. The impact to the area on Wednesday should not have occurred to the extent that it did. The City regrets Wednesday’s incident, and again thanks those citizens who reported it. The City also apologizes for not having communicated the installation of groundwater monitoring wells with trail users in a more proactive way.