Flood risks average to below average across N.W.T., gov't says

Water levels across the Northwest Territories this spring are lower than usual, and flood risks are average to low, according to the territory's Department of Environment and Climate Change.

This comes after a warmer and drier-than-normal summer and fall in 2024.

Water levels in the territory's rivers and lakes have been low for a few years. Last year, barges couldn't make it up the Mackenzie River into the Sahtu. For this year, the river's water levels will continue to be well below average, according to the department.

In several areas water levels are higher than in 2024, but they are still below average, said Emma Riley, a hydrologist for the department. Great Slave Lake, for example, is 30 centimetres higher than it was last year, she said, but still below average.

"We really need some more [water] inputs from Slave River and that's dependent on the snow melt and also on precipitation events," Riley said.

Riley didn't say whether shipping will be affected this year, but said the department has met with shipping industry leaders to discuss the conditions.

"They'll take all that information that we give them and then they'll make a decision based off of that," she said.

"What I can say is that there is a lot more water in the system compared to 2024. We have seen a better snowpack so far this year and [better] pre-existing water levels."

Floods

Spring flow, the total amount of water that moves through a river during the spring, is expected to be low.

"Spring flows are looking below average for most regions," Riley said.

This, said Riley, decreases the risk of flooding.

However, both Riley and the report warn that communities should still be prepared for the potential of spring flooding as water levels can rise quickly in response to ice jams.

In the Dehcho, the communities that are susceptible to flooding include Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte, Jean Marie River, and Fort Simpson, but flood risks are assessed at average to below average.

"Rght now on the Hay River and on the Liard, we've seen a lot of thermal break up of the river, which in a flood context is exactly what we want to see [to reduce the risk of floods]," she said.

"[We] want to see the river ice break down in place so it loses its strength so that if any ice jams do happen, they move through the system a bit faster."

Tulita and Fort Good Hope are generally on the watch list for floods, but the risk there is classified as below average as well.

Fort McPherson is also classified as low-risk. Aklavik hasn't been classified yet, but the report notes water levels in the area are average and ice flows are expected to be average.