Sawmill Bay Bay Water Aerodrome

Economic reasons. The Sawmill Bay Water Aerodrome existed almost exclusively to serve the residential community of Sawmill Bay, which housed workers and their families from the nearby Eldorado Mine at Port Radium. When the mine ceased operations due to depleted uranium reserves and low uranium prices, the community was abandoned. Without the mine and the community, there was no longer a need for the aerodrome, leading to its closure and delisting.

The registered aerodrome is permanently closed. The physical site of the former community and aerodrome is now occupied by the Great Bear Lake Lodge, a private, high-end sport fishing lodge. The lodge uses the bay for its own private floatplane charter operations to fly in guests and supplies during the fishing season. While seaplanes still land on the water at this location, it is no longer a registered public or private aerodrome, and the infrastructure from the mining era is gone, replaced by the facilities of the fishing lodge.

The Sawmill Bay Water Aerodrome was a vital logistical hub for the Port Radium/Eldorado Mine, one of Canada's most historically significant mining operations. The mine was the primary source of uranium for the Manhattan Project during World War II and later for the Cold War nuclear arms race and civilian power generation. During the ice-free summer months, the water aerodrome handled floatplane traffic, which was crucial for transporting personnel, mail, fresh produce, and other essential supplies to the isolated community. It complemented the land-based Port Radium Airport (CYRAP), providing a critical transportation link for lighter aircraft and when the land runway was unusable. The operations connected this remote northern community to larger centers like Yellowknife.

There are zero known plans or prospects for reopening the Sawmill Bay Water Aerodrome as a formally registered airport. The economic driver (the mine) for the original aerodrome is gone permanently. Current aviation needs for the area are limited to tourism and are adequately met by private charter floatplanes landing on the lake as needed for the existing fishing lodge. There is no industrial or public demand that would justify the cost and administration of re-establishing a registered aerodrome at this remote location.