The N.W.T.'s Marine Transportation Services has announced it is cancelling barges to Norman Wells and Tulita due to low water levels.

Unusually low waters in the Mackenzie River during late summer 2025, disrupting traditional and commercial river transport and indicating a shift from riverbed to riparian areas.

Low water levels on the Mackenzie River are causing cargo shipments to use a different route to access northern communities, beginning in the Arctic Ocean. 

The Canadian Coast Guard is warning mariners to use extreme caution and prioritize safety on the Mackenzie River due to low water levels, specifically between Wrigley Harbour on Great Slave Lake and the entrance of the Aklavik Channel (Mile 952) near Inuvik.

A UNBC study finds glaciers feeding the Slave River watershed are melting twice as fast as a decade ago, contributing to record low water levels in Northwest Territories rivers, while GNWT officials expect short-term stability from snowmelt and summer rains.