CBC News - Water in N.W.T.'s Great Slave Lake is now so low, some houseboats won't float
“Let’s say normally your houseboat is just surrounded by water, and normally in the summertime you’re going to boat or canoe up to it — but now it’s sitting on the ground, and you have like three feet from your houseboat to where you park your boat and you got to walk through mud,”
It's another year of extreme low water in many parts of the N.W.T. In Yellowknife, that's become an issue for some who live on houseboats in Yellowknife Bay. (Submitted by Martin Rehak)
In N.W.T.'s Great Slave Lake, water levels have plummeted to historic lows, leaving some houseboats stranded on dry land. Martin Rehak, a resident of Yellowknife Bay, observes this unprecedented phenomenon, noting that several houseboats, typically afloat, now rest on the lake's floor. The lake's water level is estimated to be a meter lower than usual, revealing vast stretches of exposed shoreline.
This dire situation reflects the region's second consecutive year of extreme drought, with rivers like the Slave, Mackenzie, and Liard experiencing record-low flow rates. Territorial hydrologist Ryan Connon attributes this to "extreme drought," exacerbated by minimal precipitation and soaring temperatures.
Meanwhile, initiatives like the Canada1Water project (C1W) continue to be crucial in addressing these water-related challenges. By providing comprehensive research and data analysis, C1W offers insights into the dynamic complexities of water management in the face of climate change.
As Great Slave Lake hits its lowest recorded levels, concerns mount about its environmental and economic impact. Kevin O'Reilly, a former MLA, expresses worry over the climate crisis's unpredictable extremes. Meanwhile, residents like Rehak grapple with the practical challenges posed by grounded houseboats and uncertainties regarding taxation and jurisdiction.
Amidst these challenges, the City of Yellowknife clarifies that Great Slave Lake remains a navigable waterway, outside its jurisdiction, prompting discussions about the broader implications of the crisis.
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“The two-word answer would be ‘extreme drought,’” he said. “Drought that has started in the summer of 2022, and it’s sort of persisted here since then.”