Southern Lakes water levels will break record: forecasters

Yukon flood forecasters have bad news for thepeoplein the Southern Lakes struggling to stay ahead of rising waters: Levels are set to pass the record high set in 1981.

In their latest update, forecasters with Yukon Energy and the governmentpinned the current level at Marsh Lake at just under 657 metres already well above levels in 2004, which peaked at around 656.7 metres.

"2004 was high and people were affected and we passed that threshold," said Glen Ford, a hydrology technologist with the Environment Department, adding that he expects flood waters to climb another 25 centimetres within days.

Marsh Lake is considered to be at its full supply level at 656.2 metres.

Forty per cent of this year's watercomes from glacial melting, while 35 per cent is from summer precipitation and 25 per cent from meltedsnow pack, Yukon Energy Corp. said Wednesday.

The Southern Lakes, upstream along the Yukon River from the power utility's Whitehorse Rapids hydroelectricity station, include Marsh Lake, Schwatka Lake and Tagish Lake.

Flood waters were already starting to lap over roads and onto a number of properties around Marsh Lake this week and residents have been moving sandbags into position in hopes of protecting their homes.

Ford warned people not to expect the water to go down anytime soon, sayingit could be as late as early October before levels return to normal.

"It will take a long time when it turns around, so that the water flowing out is more than it's flowing in, ... to empty it out," he said.

In the meantime, he said residents scrambling to protect their property from flooding should prepare for winds in the coming weeks and months.

"Just the wave action from the winds at these water levels can cause considerable damage," he said.

On Wednesday, the territory's chief medical officer of health issued a boil water advisory for the Southern Lakes area, including Carcross, Tagish, Marsh Lake and Lake Laberge. That warning could be in force until the fall.