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Heading for higher ground Aklavik wants access road to hills during flooding
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 10, 2013
AKLAVIK
Last week's flooding in Aklavik highlights the need for an access road to higher ground, says the town's mayor.
A state of emergency was called in Aklavik after floodwaters reached the community. - photo courtesy of Dean McLeod |
Mayor Arnie Steinwand said a road to hills about 18 kilometres outside of the community would give residents a safe place to go when flooding gets bad, which often happens in the spring.
"We could evacuate the community to higher ground, which we can't do now," Steinwand said.
A road would also provide year-round access to local gravel deposits, reducing the need to ship gravel from Inuvik in the summer. It would also be the first step in eventually connecting the community to the Dempster Highway, Steinwand said.
Last week, Aklavik declared a state of emergency when water from the Peel Channel of the Mackenzie River flooded the community.
"As far as floods go, it wasn't that bad, we've had a lot worse," Steinwand said. "It crested a foot below the point where we would have to evacuate."
When floods occur in Aklavik, there is a limited time frame to respond, he said. Flood waters wash out roads, including the road to the airport, and sometimes the airport runway, so decisions need to be made before it's too late.
"We have to call for an evacuation before the airport is underwater and the roads," Steinwand said. "When the water gets too high, you can't drive through anymore.
It takes probably 48 hours to get everybody out of here."
Waters receded before an evacuation was necessary, but the community isn't always so fortunate, Steinwand said. A larger flood in 2006 prompted emergency evacuations to Inuvik and caused $3 million in damages.
Steinwand said while floods draw attention to the power of the river, it is also working in quieter ways.
Water is eating away at the river's banks, drawing closer and closer to the community.
"We're going to need some erosion protection in an awful hurry," Steinwand said. "There are four or five spots where the river is running across the road."
He said some roads are between the river on one side and wetlands on the other, leaving them vulnerable. Steinwand said he worries the community is in danger of becoming trapped by water if erosion continues.
"We'd be completely isolated," he said. "We'd be on an island."
High water levels in spring are also wreaking havoc on Aklavik's drinking water intake system. Steinwand said the town's water plant is in good shape, but dirt and debris swept into the river as floodwater makes its way downstream blocks the pumps that draw water into the system.
"They gum up with mud when the water gets high, when the river rises," Steinwand said.
Aklavik residents were asked to conserve water throughout the flood.
Steinwand said the town's emergency preparedness plans are reviewed each year and updated.
"We've got an excellent response plan," he said. "There's been a lot of experience going into that. The whole experience of the town is reflected in that plan."
As of June 7, Steinwand said the river was receding and the snow and rain in the forecast wouldn't impact water levels.
"Well, the river has gone down a bit, probably a couple feet from when we crested, so we're OK," he said. "We expect it to continue to gradually drop some more."
He said he's glad the danger is now over, but there is no way to tell what will happen this time next spring.
"We'll keep our fingers crossed for next year," he said.
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