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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The daily occupancy rate of the 63 campsites at Prelude Lake Territorial Park increased to 60.7 per cent in 2012 from 32 per cent in 2009, according to the Prelude Lake draft management plan unveiled by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment last month.

The number of nights a camper stays at the park has also been increasing of late. In 2012, campers spent a total of 2,051 nights at the park and stayed an average of 3.99 nights, a substantial increase from 2009's total of 1,732 camping nights and an average 2.65 night stay per camper.

The number of camping permits given out for the park increased to 553 permits from 473 given out in 2011. The number of day-use permits issued increased to 700 in 2011 - more than double the number given out in 2009 or 2010.

Also, in 2012 there were six days where the park was at over 90 per cent capacity, compared to one day or zero days the previous three years.

Most campers at Prelude Lake Territorial Park are Yellowknifers. Yellowknife residents made up 86 per cent of all campers in the park during the 2011 season, when they stayed an average of 3.2 nights with an average party size of 3.3 campers per site. Non-resident campers stayed an average of 2.1 nights with an average party size of 2.5 campers.

Many campers, primarily non-Yellowknifers, travel with campers to the site. The size of these campers has increased over the years and today they measure up to 40 feet long. This has created a need for larger campsites at Prelude Lake and easier vehicle access to these sites.

Twenty of the campsites are considered extended-stay campsites where users are allowed uninterrupted access to a site for two months at a time, or half of the summer camping season. Users of these sites are usually Yellowknifers and these campers often bring a semi-permanent residence such as a motorhome with them to the site.

Both revenue and expenditures at the park have increased in the past three years. In 2012, the park generated $76,549.50 in revenue, up from $63,630 in 2011 and $52,877.50 in 2010. At the same time, expenditures increased to $180,000 in 2012 from $147,000 in 2011. The increase in costs is due to various capital projects at the site, according to the draft management plan.

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