Nahanni Butte (Jun 23/06) -People were using canoes to travel along some of the streets of Nahanni Butte June 19.

High levels in the South Nahanni River sent water flowing into the community. In four areas along the bank, the water created large lakes about one metre deep, Earl Hope, the community foreman, said.

On Monday, the water was less than 60-feet from the band office. Three houses had water up to the doorsteps and the community garage was filled with 1.5 to 2- feet of water, Hope said.

Community members had been watching the river since Saturday. The water started coming into the community on Sunday.

Everyone had boats nearby in case they were needed, Hope said.

"We're just praying the water will go down," he said.

John Ivey, band manager, said the river is at the highest level community members have seen in three years. On Monday, the water level was holding steady.

"Everyone is keeping cool and calm.

"No one is getting excited," Ivey said.

The main concern was access to the airport. Between 200 to 300-feet of the winter road was covered by water cutting off access from that direction.

The main road in the community was also under water, Ivey said.

With boats, the community would not become stranded, but it would be difficult if an elder needed to be medivaced, Ivey said.

His house was one of the structures surrounded by water. He had to canoe to work.

Both the South Nahanni River and the upper Liard River are very high, Roger Pilling, a hydrometric supervisor with the Water Survey of Canada, said.

The highest level of water discharge ever has been measured on the mouth of the Liard River, Pilling said. On June 19, the discharge was 50 per cent above the normal range.

The levels can be contributed to a warm snow melt and a lot of rain in Northern British Columbia and the Yukon, Pilling said.

Recessions in both rivers were expected to occur on June 20, unless more rain fell, Pilling said.