Norman Wells and Tulita, N.W.T., won’t get barge deliveries this year

The Deh Cho bridge near Fort Providence. Low levels of water can be seen well into the middle of the Mackenzie River. (Travis Burke / CBC)

Low water levels on Mackenzie River cited as reason for cancellation

Two N.W.T. communities won’t receive barge deliveries this year due to low water levels on the Mackenzie River.

On Thursday morning, the territorial government announced Marine Transportation Services would be cancelling barges to Norman Wells and Tulita.

In a news release, the Department of Infrastructure wrote that the Mackenzie River near Fort Providence is “not navigable and includes obstacles such as large boulders and gravel bars at key manoeuvring areas.”

It wouldn’t be safe for barges to traverse the river, the department wrote.

“We understand that these changes have negative impacts on customers, but safety remains our top priority,” it wrote.

Fuel deliveries once winter road opens 

The cancellation means the territory’s fuel services division will deliver fuel to Tulita once winter comes and the winter road opens. The department wrote that there should be enough fuel in Tulita to tide the community over until that time.

It said it has notified Imperial Oil of the cancellation, since Imperial Oil sells fuel in Norman Wells.

The announcement comes two weeks after the N.W.T. government announced major changes to the barge schedule for 2024. That announcement meant all cargo going north of Norman Wells would be redirected to Tuktoyaktuk instead.

Last week, Buffalo Airways announced it would be offering discounted rates to fly cargo to Sahtu communities as a way to offset the impacts of changes to barging schedules.

This article is republished from RCI.