Monthly Archives: April 2015

Ice Moves out at Sleetmute – courtesy Susan Hubbard

Susan reports: “The main channel of ice in front of Sleetmute moved out last evening. It didn’t go far as you can see in the 3rd photo. It has stopped just at the end of the village. There is still a shelf of ice upriver from my place and a long stretch reading up from the island across from the village. The last picture shows the extent of the shore ice… next to nothing. I’ll keep everyone posted as things continue through out today.”

Aniak last night – courtesy Megan Leary

River at Upper Kalskag – courtesy NVKLG Environmental Department

Kevin Gusty reports this morning:

“Our River and sloughs are melting and water has been low but we have alot of open water everywhere. Lots of birds and a black bear once in a while.

The Ice was not very thick this year and from what I could gather it is the same up River, the ice shifts almost every day ,not much to tell but like I said it is just mostly melting and shifting little by little and when the ice goes it will go all out. I dont think we or anyone will have flood issues this year – if there are issues I would be surprised.”

River at Red Devil – picture courtesy of Ruby Egrass

Other Reports from Upriver:

Stony River: ice moved for 1/2 an hour Sunday evening.

River of slush ice at Sleetmute – picture courtesy of Susan Hubbard

Susan Hubbard, Sleetmute: Here is what we look like just a few minutes ago. The main body of ice is slush and I’m guessing will pass in the next 12 hours. There is some open water on the sides, and one open section in front of the school. The water level has come up just to the bottom of the bank. Looks like it is going to be totally uneventful this year.

Barb Carlson, Sleetmute: Long leads in the middle of the river have opened from Sleetmute down to just above Midway.  These leads are generally where the river never froze or only froze for a short period near the end of Feb.  The leads continue to eat out and elongate during the heat of the day.  No pressure ridges visible from Midway.  Water is rising very slowly and is still quite low – most of our snow is gone except on north facing slopes.

Evelyn Thomas, Crooked Creek: We had some ice movement by the village and a crack opened up no pictures yet, it was last night around 8 p.m.

Eric Morgan, Chuathbaluk: Water slowly rising, but still very low. Water level about where it was when the River froze last fall.

Aniak: Aniak River wide open, and Aniak Slough open to the village. People are boating up the Aniak River.

Kalskag: no activity reported.

Nicolai Napoka, Tuluksak: Mouth of Tuluksak River bad. Main River channel right above the mouth has opened up. A little ice shifting in the short cut across from the Bogus Creek area reported by pilots.

Deteriorating conditions in the Bethel area – picture courtesy of Earl Samuelson, Sr.