The flooding situation in the Southern Lakes region is officially record-setting.

John Streicker, the Liberal MLA for the area, posted an update on his Facebook page Sunday saying Marsh Lake had exceeded the record levels from 2007 by 8 a.m.

The post included a video of Streicker wading into the flood waters near shore. In less than a minute, he was in water up to his neck.

In a more hopeful sign, he also mentioned to the rate of increase at the lake is starting to slow down.

Speaking to the Star early this afternoon, Community Services Minister Richard Mostyn called the video brilliant. Streicker, he said, was walking in an area that during the winter had little to no water.

“This is the largest flood mitigation in Yukon history,” Mostyn said.

“It’s been going on now for three weeks. We have 60 Yukon government staff from all departments down there. We’ve never had that many people before.”

The government’s request to the federal government for personnel assistance on the ground has been approved, Mostyn said.

Currently, a Canadian Forces advance team of 12 advisors is in Whitehorse scouting the affected areas in preparation for troops to arrive.

“We are expecting around 90 members of the Canadian Forces to arrive in the Yukon over the next 48 hours to assist with flood response,” the government said in a stateent.

“We are grateful and happy to have them offer their support,” said a statement from the Yukon government.  

Mostyn added to that good news for the territory.

“On Saturday, I phoned Bill Blair (the federal minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness) about using the armed forces. He said ‘we know what’s going on in the territory and we’re ready to help.’”

Mostyn said the first contingent of armed forces personnel arrived Sunday.

“We have another 90 coming in over the next 48 hours for a total of 102. We also have another seven flood experts from Manitoba we’ve brought in.

“Another team of six is due to arrive in the next few days. Floods are not something we deal with on a regular basis.”

The military personnel will be under the command of Yukon officials.

Staff from Yukon Wildland Fire Management have been diverted to help with the flooding, Mostyn said. The arrival of the military means they can be switched back to firefighting.

(Five more fires erupted over the weekend, including one near Lake Laberge. See coverage)

“It’s perfect conditions for fire right now,” Mostyn noted. “Now they can actually fight the fires instead of floods.”

Over the weekend, Army Beach at Marsh Lake was underwater.

It was a weekend of steady sandbagging in hot, buggy conditions for Southern Lakes and Lake Laberge residents, with the rentals of such equipment as Bobcats extremely hard to come by.

The City of Whitehorse was not exempt from some of the chaos caused by the rising water levels.

It issued a public notice that the trail at the Bert Law Bridge was closed temporarily due to water conditions (see p. 3).

Myes Dolphin, the communications director for the city, said “a high streamflow advisory for the Yukon River was issued this morning. The City will continue to work closely with the Government of Yukon and with Yukon Energy on monitoring water levels, and the risk to the city.

“The City will continue to update its public information line (please share: 867-393-8444), as well as its website and social media channels.

“We strongly encourage residents to register for Whitehorse Alert, if they haven’t already, and to have a 72-hour kit ready in case of emergency.”

Mostyn said he has spoken to city officials about that situation.

The industrial area around Marwell is a prime spot for flooding, as is the Millennium Trail in certain spots.

The latest report from the Yukon government states “currently, flow on the Yukon River at Whitehorse is at historically high levels and rising.

“Record snowmelt-driven inputs to the Southern Lakes have resulted in rapidly rising lake levels and increased flows on the Yukon River between Marsh Lake and Lake Laberge.

“Water velocities through Miles Canyon and downstream of the Whitehorse dam are high with dangerous currents. The high water levels are resulting in increased erosion along riverbanks and debris in the river.

“Rates of water level rise are slowing in the Southern Lakes and all three lakes rose less than seven centimeters in the past 24 hours.

“This indicates that inflows to the lakes are decreasing as the high elevation snowpack is depleted. However, with water levels in the Southern Lakes continuing to rise and typically peaking in late summer, flows and water levels on the Yukon River at Whitehorse will continue increasing and are expected to remain elevated for some time.

“The amount and timing of precipitation events will likely determine the peak water level in the Southern Lakes, also influencing peak flows and water levels on the Yukon River at Whitehorse.”