MACKENZIE VALLEY
Residents in communities along the Mackenzie River are sharing videos, photos and information about this year's ice breakup, thanks to a new Facebook page launched earlier this month.

While a newsletter is e-mailed to subscribers a few days a week, Danny Swainson, a fisheries resource specialist with the Fisheries Joint Management Committee, started the Mackenzie River Break-Up page as a way to share information about river conditions.

"It just sort of occurred to us that people in the North are so active on Facebook as it is, why not open the door to a lot more people that maybe aren't aware of the breakup newsletter," he said.

"That way we can have real-time images and videos being shared across large distances."

More than 400 people had joined the page as of press time on May 19. Members are posting videos as the ice passes their communities or cabins while others share information about ice conditions up river with those further down.

"I think it's a really valuable tool for those people that are actually out there and are able to share real-time photos from their cabins," Swainson said.

Breakup on the Mackenzie River has taken place earlier than usual for the past two years, said Dustin Whalen, a physical scientist with Natural Resources Canada.

Breakup usually takes place in Inuvik between May 21 and 29, said Whalen, who has been helping to publish the Mackenzie-Beaufort ice breakup newsletter for the past 11 years.

"Last year was one of the earliest years on record," he said.

Last year, ice had cleared the East Channel by May 22.

But Whalen said conditions this year have been interesting. While breakup was well underway at Tsiigehtchic last week, an ice jam slowed down the process.

Ice began moving in Inuvik on May 19.

While ice jams still occur, last year's mild winter means ice is thinner and jamming is less frequent and for shorter periods as ice makes its way downriver, Whalen said.

Photos and videos posted by residents within days of the page's launch on May 5 is now helping scientists better understand the breakup process.

"We can kind of compare what we know from satellite imagery to what they're seeing in real-time," Whalen said. "I think it has really helped us to kind of discover the science behind how the river and ice interact."

Whalen, Swainson and Natural Resources Canada staff also post daily, which gives residents access to scientific data.

"That's where we come in with our background of 11 years of data or with this satellite imagery that we have access to," Whalen said. "I think both parties are really learning a lot from each other."

It's also a great way for residents along the river to update each other, he added.

Swainson said he is pleased with how many people have been updating the page.

"I think it's a good resource for all of us, from just general interest to people who are worried about safety on the land and travelling," he said. "I'm happy that it took off so quickly."

Whalen said he agreed.

"I think it's excellent because as you can see, it's really popular," he said. "People are contributing to it."

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