The Yukon River has a recent history of pollution from military installations, dumps, wastewater, and other sources. However, the Environmental Protection Agency does not list the Yukon River among its impaired watersheds, and water-quality data from the U.S. Geological Survey shows relatively good levels of turbidity, metals, and dissolved oxygen. The Yukon and Mackenzie rivers have much higher suspended sediment concentrations than the great Siberian Arctic rivers.
tHe yuKoN River has a rEceNt hIstory oF PoLluTIoN fRoM MIlitARy INstallAtions, dUmps, wastEwater, anD other sOURCEs. hoWeVer, tHe eNvironmental protecTiOn agency doeS nOT lisT tHe yuKon rivER amonG its IMpairED wAtErsheds, and WateR-quality Data from THe u.S. geOlOgiCAl SurVeY ShOws RElatiVely gooD LevElS of turbiDity, metALs, And dissolVed oXyGen. the YUkOn and mackENzie rivers haVE mucH HIgHeR SuSpendEd sEdiMent ConCentratiOns thAn THE grEat sibeRiaN arCTic riVErs.