Water still rising in Yukon's Southern Lakes

Hydrologists with the Yukon government say water levels on the Southern Lakes will peak higher than previously forecast, and probably do so within the next couple of weeks.

The water levelon Marsh Lake, upstream along the Yukon River from Whitehorse, has already pushed past 1981's record high of 656.994 metres above sea level. The lake was at 657.199 metres as of Tuesday morning.

As recently as July 18, forecasters with Yukon Energy Corp. predicted the rising water to peak at approximately 657.1 metres by mid-August.

But now, hydrologist Glen Ford with the Yukon's environment department saidits own forecasters predict aneven higher peak.

"This is unprecedented. We haven't seen these kinds of levels before," Ford told CBC News on Tuesday.

"Our hydrologist has forecasted it to go quite a bit above its previous maximum. He's forecasted it to go to an elevation of 657.297 [metres]. That's seven centimetres above our previous forecast."

Ford said the water should reach that level around Aug. 1 and remain until mid-August.

In the meantime, Yukonemergency officials say volunteers and residents scrambling to protect houses and properties in the flooded areas are working ahead of the rising lakes.

"I wouldn't want to say that we can see the end from here, but it looks like we're gaining some ground on it," EMO spokesman Doug Caldwell said Tuesday.

"I know on some properties out on Marsh [Lake] along Army Beach, some of the residents there are a bit more comfortable with the efforts that are being made on their sand dikes."

On Monday, officials recommended some residents in the Army Beach Road area leave their homes, but no formal evacuation order has been made to date.

Caldwell said the Emergency Measures Organization is still looking for people to fill sandbags throughout this week. In Whitehorse, volunteers can fill sandbags at the grader station on Quartz Road.

Volunteers are asked to leave petsat home and keep an eye on any small children they bring along. Everyone who wants to get involved should wear gloves and proper shoes, Caldwell said.

Also on Tuesday, Yukon Energy warned any boaters planning to travel on the Yukon River to watch out for logs, branches and other debris.

Spokeswoman Janet Patterson said that debris damagedthe boat lock below Marsh Lake at the utility's Yukon River Control Structure. That means boaters cannot navigate around the structure, located south of Whitehorse at the Yukon River bridge, in order to move between Schwatka Lake and Marsh Lake.

"We were out there trying to remove the debris, and in the process of trying to remove the debris it got damaged," she said.

Yukon Energy workers may not be able to repair the boat lock until water levels subside, Patterson said.