Canada害羞草研究所檚 longest river is at historically low levels, stranding communities that rely on it for essential goods and alarming First Nations along its banks who have never known the mighty Mackenzie to be so shallow.
害羞草研究所淭his has never been seen before,害羞草研究所� said Dieter Cazon, looking out at the water from his office as land and resources manager for the Liidlii Kue First Nation at Fort Simpson, N.W.T.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e asked elders, 害羞草研究所楧oes anybody have stories about water being this incredibly low?害羞草研究所� Nobody has these stories.害羞草研究所�
From Great Slave Lake to the Beaufort Sea, the Mackenzie River is 1,738 kilometres long. Its watershed covers parts of five provinces and territories.
But the Northwest Territories government reports flow rates at most locations along the river are either well below average or at their lowest recorded value for this time of year.
Water levels are about two metres below average, said territorial hydrologist Ryan Connon. Normal seasonal fluctuations are about 50 centimetres.
害羞草研究所淏eing two metres lower than normal is quite significant.害羞草研究所�
That drop is even more dramatic, because two years ago rivers and lakes in the Mackenzie system were at all-time highs.
害羞草研究所淭he fact that water levels have dropped so much, that害羞草研究所檚 definitely unprecedented,害羞草研究所� Connon said.
Last week, the Canadian Coast Guard abandoned attempts to monitor and mark hazards along almost the entire territorial length of the river. The coast guard害羞草研究所檚 two buoy tenders are limited to the lake itself and a short stretch of river north of Aklavik.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been unable to provide our usual on-water presence on the river so far in 2024,害羞草研究所� said spokesman Jeremy Hennessy in an email.
害羞草研究所淩iver users should use extreme caution if venturing out, and keep in mind that any buoys in this section of the river are unreliable.害羞草研究所�
There are no all-season roads along most of the river害羞草研究所檚 valley. Communities are supplied by air or river barge for essentials from groceries to building supplies.
害羞草研究所淧retty well everything, even our fuel,害羞草研究所� said Douglas Yallee, mayor of Tulita, N.W.T., a village on the river about halfway up its length. 害羞草研究所淚t is affecting the resupply of our community.害羞草研究所�
Yallee said he worries that having to fly in supplies will increase costs for a community that can ill afford it. As well, he said Tulita害羞草研究所檚 supply of aviation fuel is low as the wildfire season proceeds.
害羞草研究所淔ire season害羞草研究所檚 back, and they害羞草研究所檙e going to be burning up a lot of fuel.害羞草研究所�
Nor is the low water limited to the Mackenzie. Great Bear and Great Slave Lakes are at or near their lowest-ever levels, as are smaller rivers feeding into the Mackenzie.
The territory has plans to dredge the Liard River to ensure the ferry that provides Fort Simpson害羞草研究所檚 only road link to the south remains viable.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been experiencing extreme drought over the entire Mackenzie River Basin over the last two years, coupled with extremely high temperatures,害羞草研究所� Connon said. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e definitely seeing a climate change signal.害羞草研究所�
The Mackenzie is central to life in the area. That part of the territory is known as the Dehcho 害羞草研究所� Dene for 害羞草研究所淏ig River.害羞草研究所�
But long sandbars are popping up where none were before. Rocks once submerged by the current are bare and dry. Banks once kilometres apart are closer together than ever.
害羞草研究所淭o see it so dry, it害羞草研究所檚 pretty crazy,害羞草研究所� Cazon said.
Declining water is causing social, economic and environmental concerns, he said. It害羞草研究所檚 starting to change a way of life that has existed for centuries.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e river people,害羞草研究所� said Cazon.
害羞草研究所淭raditionally, you害羞草研究所檇 be able to go up these creeks and stuff to go hunting, but getting into the bush is getting a little bit harder. If it goes too long, issues of food security start popping up.
害羞草研究所淐limate change sucks.害羞草研究所�
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