After years, some NWT water levels appear to be improving

The latest NWT government water monitoring bulletin contains some signs of hope for improved conditions after four years of drought.

The June 2026 bulletin, issued by the GNWT on Friday, asserts water levels across most large lakes and rivers “are generally higher” than this time last year.

“Water levels have shown some recovery since the low water levels observed over the past few years, with increases in water levels due to an above-average snowpack in much of the Mackenzie River basin,” NWT hydrologists state in the bulletin.

Great Slave Lake’s water level is still below average but higher than in the past three years, while the Hay River’s level is now described as “average to above average for this time of year.”

The Mackenzie River and Liard River’s water levels remain below average but are also improving. The Slave River’s level is above average for the time of year.

These measurements don’t mean the drought is over. The territory is still one of Canada’s most pronounced areas of drought according to the latest federal mapping.

Water levels over the coming months will depend on rainfall across the NWT, northern Alberta and northern BC.

Federal climate forecasts for June to August this year suggest above-average temperatures and precipitation that’s about average or slightly lower, the GNWT stated.