The Town of Watson Lake, Yukon, is asking residents to keep roads and right-of-way areas clear this winter to ensure snowplows and emergency vehicles can move safely through the community. The reminders were issued in January 2026 as the town enters its mid-winter snowfall period and moves to keep public paths clear of obstructions.
The Town of Watson Lake is requesting that people remove their garbage bins from the roadside as soon as they are emptied. The town also noted that pushing snow from private driveways onto public roads is prohibited, and piling snow within 15 feet of fire hydrants is not allowed, since these actions can block traffic and create hazards for drivers and maintenance crews.
These rules are designed to prevent damage to municipal snow-clearing equipment and to make sure fire hydrants remain accessible for first responders during emergencies. According to the town’s Snow Removal Policy (Policy T 05-22-295), grader operators will attempt to use the “driveway trap” to minimize the windrow of snow left at the end of driveways; however, this is not guaranteed on every pass, does not apply when plow trucks are used, and removing any remaining snow from driveway entrances is the responsibility of the property owner.
Residents can stay updated on plowing activities through the town’s official website and the Voyent Alert! system. The Town’s bylaw enforcement is monitoring compliance and may investigate complaints and issue notices or fines under the General Maintenance and Nuisance Bylaw if property owners fail to keep the public right-of-way clear.
