Low water on Mackenzie River worries N.W.T. businesses

For the second straight summer, low water levels are raising concerns for people living along the Mackenzie River.

Last year, the Northern Transportation Company had to cancel some of its barges to Northern communities because of low water levels. A shipment of stoves and other equipment set for Fort Good Hope had to be brought in late by winter road.

Business owner Arthur Tobac, who lives in Fort Good Hope, said his company is planning to order more supplies this year. "I don't want to have all of that and then have a repeat of last year as well because last year because of the weather, the snow and everything it cost us extra just to get all of the wood stoves installed," he said 

Tobac said he's going with NTCL again this year because it has competitive rates. But he said if there are delays, he may consider options such as shipping goods down from Inuvik.

NTCL said its too early to know what water levels will be like at the end of the season. It is, however, watching the weather and will make adjustments if it needs to.

Hydro headaches

The water levels are also causing headaches for the N.W.T. Power Corporation. Spokesperson Pam Coulter said water levels on the Snare and the Bluefish systems are at all-time lows. The Snare reservoir is roughly five feet lower than last year, she said. 

Coulter said the utility usually generates 95 percent of its power by hydro and 5 percent by diesel. Right now it is using 70 percent hydro and 30 percent diesel. 

"This is a continuation of last year," she said. "We have not had an influx of water since last summer, and we did not get what we expected last summer. So we are at the same place we were last year.

"Our snow measurements are about 75 percent of average so we're hoping that we get a good influx, but again, we won't know anything until the end of July."

July, explained Coulter, is when the snow melt usually reaches the reservoir. 

Last year, the territorial government stepped in to pay $20 million after the power corporation applied to raise rates. Coulter said if they use more diesel than anticipated, they would have to apply another rate rider this year.

"We do not believe we're going to get water up to a normal level this year, but if we get more than we have now we'll be really pleased and we can start using more hydro," she said.