Mackenzie River water levels could affect barges for second straight year

Low water levels on rivers across the Northwest Territories could force the cancellation of barge shipments for a second straight year.

Last year, the shipping season on the Mackenzie River shut down roughly a month early because of low water levels. This year, levels are even lower — approaching or at all-time lows on all major rivers across the territory.

"This will be the lowest I've ever seen in my life," says Arthur Beck, who grew up in the territory's South Slave region. "I'll be 58 years old this summer, and I grew up on the Taltson River system."

On the Mackenzie River, the Coast Guard has just completed placing navigational buoys marking the way from Great Slave Lake to Inuvik. According to Francois Lamy, who is in charge of setting up and removing the markers, the River is at levels that usually aren't seen until August.

"The effect of the snow in the mountains of western Canada, that's all gone now," says Lamy, "so now we're waiting for rain, and when it rains it's usually very little these days."

NTCL battles levels with lighter loads

Last year, the Northern Transportation Company was forced to cancel scheduled barge shipments to Fort Good Hope, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk at the end of September due to low water levels. A shipment of stoves and other equipment set for Fort Good Hope had to be brought in late by winter road.

The shipping season normally runs until the end of October.

An official with the company says it's still too early to tell how this season will go, but it is using more barges and tugs and carrying lighter loads in an effort to prevent it from happening again.

Lamy says the Coast Guard is doing its part, as well.

"We're trying to do what we can to accommodate the users," says Lamy, "and, of course, the most important is that the communities along the river are serviced, that the fuel they need is delivered, and food and building materials, everything is delivered."