DEH CHO - Two small boats became the newest forms of public transportation in Fort Liard this week as residents dealt with the effects of break-up.

The ice on the Liard River broke, but only partially, at Fort Liard on April 23. The river cleared downstream from the community but the ice jammed right in front of the hamlet creating a plug of ice across the river, said John McKee the hamlet's senior administrative officer.

Collin Needlay, left, Clifford Lomen, Donald Lomen and Joachim Klondike paddle across the flooded section of Fort Liard's main street on Sunday. Since April 24 two boats have been ferrying residents back and forth to the section of the hamlet cut off by floodwaters from the Liard River. - photo courtesy of Roslyn Gardner Firth

"It's just packed solid," McKee said.

With the river blocked water began to back up into a natural ravine in the hamlet on Saturday. The water covered main street and a side road cutting off a small section of the community.

A number of houses, the Liard Valley General Store and Motel, and the water plant are all in the affected area. The area around the community's ball diamond also flooded.

There was no official evacuation in the face of the flooding, said McKee. All residents in the affected area were warned on Saturday morning to ensure they were aware of the situation and ready to leave if necessary, he said.

People were cautioned to move from their houses but the request wasn't enforceable, McKee said. Residents of three houses in a particularly low lying area that flooded did have to go elsewhere because water came up to if not into their first floor, he said.

Despite the two flooded roads no one was cut off from services, McKee said. Local residents began using a small boat to ferry people across the flooded section of the main road.

"It's a bit of a novelty," he said.

The hamlet's drinking water supply has been tested and is safe but residents were asked to conserve water. The hamlet's water truck couldn't take full loads because it had to drive over the soft, flooded road, said McKee.

As of Tuesday morning the water level had dropped but a 24-hour watch was continuing until the ice blockage clears.

"We're not out of the woods yet," McKee said.

In the Liard Valley General Store business has continued as usual with children coming across in the boats to buy slushies, said owner Joanne Deneron.

"People don't seem to be concerned. People think it's odd," she said.

Deneron said community elders are saying they haven't seen a break-up like this before. Some elders have chosen to leave the isolated section but others and many residents have chosen to stay. Some sleep at friends and family's houses at night but come back during the day, Deneron said.

People are watching the river and the ice closely to see what will happen, she said.

"It's a waiting game, that's what it is," said Deneron.

In Nahanni Butte the Liard River ice broke without incident on Sunday and quickly pushed on to Lindberg's Landing. The break-up reached the Liard River ferry crossing outside of Fort Simpson on Monday afternoon.

The ice pushed into the mouth of the Mackenzie River in front of Fort Simpson and was stalled as of Tuesday morning. If the ice goes today it would be the earliest break-up of the Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson in the past 25 years, said Roger Pilling, a hydrometrics supervisor with Water Survey of Canada.

In 2007, the river broke on April 28. As of noon on Tuesday the water level in the Mackenzie River was 8.3 metres and falling slightly while the Liard River at the ferry crossing was 11.2 metres and rising.

With the difference in the levels there will probably be a big push into the Mackenzie by the end of the day, Pilling said. In the past 10 years the average break-up level in the Mackenzie has been 7.3 metres. This year is different because the ice froze higher on the banks in the fall, he said.

Pilling said this break-up followed a trend that has developed in recent years. Previously the river would break up in a progression from south to north. Now the ice moves as a result of local pushes, he said.

In Fort Providence break-up was anticlimactic, said Susan Christie, the hamlet's senior administrative officer.

Normally there is a push in front of the community that attracts a crowd.

"Some years it can be spectacular," she said.

This year the ice from the ferry landing to the big island in front of the community moved out on April 22. The ice between the island and the community riverbank has remained as a separate piece.

Break-up did not cause any problems in the hamlet and seldom does because of the high riverbanks, Christie said.