Protecting Teslin from disastrous flooding

After record-breaking water levels in 2021, the village of Teslin, YK—a community of 240 residents—faced even worse conditions in 2022 when a delayed spring melt and sudden warm weather in June caused Teslin Lake to reach its highest level since 1962. Water rose quickly, triggering an evacuation alert and damaging homes and the water treatment plant. Residents responded quickly as well, distributing more than 18,000 sandbags in just two days to hold back the shoreline.

With $999,600 in GMF funding, the village worked with the Teslin Tlingit Council to move from emergency response to long-term resilience. It built a 150-metre dike to protect the community from flooding while preserving the natural shoreline and avoiding disruption to local fish habitats.

That dike is already making a difference. It is integrated into the community’s trail system, improving shoreline access for residents, including Tlingit Elders with limited mobility. It provides lasting protection for homes, infrastructure and the lake that sustains Teslin—especially salmon, which are central to Teslin Tlingit culture, food security and livelihoods. The dike’s design also allows for the construction of additional temporary measures during extreme flood events, reducing reliance on emergency repairs and recovery costs