Territorial government crews are continuing to assess properties in the Southern Lakes region for flood potential as lake levels are continuing to rise at about 10 centimetres per day.

The Southern Lakes are under a flood warning, and lakeshore residents are being advised to prepare for flooding.

Public information officer Echo Ross said this morning a high water advisory was issued Tuesday for Lake Laberge.

“Lake Laberge has become a priority,” she said. “Marsh Lake is still the area we have taken the most action on.”Marsh Lake was 1.57 metres above its normal level this morning and Lake Laberge was 1.3 metres above the normal level.

Currently, the government advises, there are five active flood warnings or advisories.

The following is the summary provided by the Emergency Co-ordination Centre.

Currently, there are five active warnings or advisories in effect:

• A flood warning for the Yukon River at Carmacks;

• A flood warning for Southern Lakes;

• A flood watch for Teslin Lake; and

• A high water advisory for Lake Laberge.

Average temperatures in June have been above normal, and the recent well-above temperatures are causing high-elevation snow to melt even faster.

Water levels are now at a record high for this time of year, with record inflows into Southern Lakes.

On Tuesday, the water level was recorded 1.57 metres above normal, and has been rising at more than 10 centimetres per day.

“If that rate continues, we will reach the 2007 flood levels as soon as this weekend,” the advisory said.

“While significant rainfall is not forecast in the next week, continued hot weather will keep snowmelt rates high in the coming days.”

The Incident Management Team (IMT) is accessing properties in the area and speaking to their owners about home protection.

Homes have been assessed at the South M’Clintock Road, Army Beach, Tagish, Constabulary and Judas Creek.

Properties in Lake Laberge subdivisions were also assessed Tuesday, and a high water advisory was issued there.

The IMT is stockpiling pumps and prioritizing their use to remove problem water. Constant evaluation of water levels is dictating which properties are prioritized for additional support.

Cement blocks and other materials have been set up at the public access area at Army Beach. A wave-wall is being constructed on South M’Clintock Road.

There are plans to bolster current barriers with superbags, and poly-berms are being organized to keep pace with rising water levels.

Meanwhile, 150,000 sandbags, 100 rolls of poly and 500 superbags have been ordered.

Filled sandbag delivery will resume today at a rate of about 1,000 bags per day.

There are currently six sandbagging stations available to residents across Southern Lakes: South M’Clintock Road, Tagish Campground, Marsh Lake Community Centre, the Inn on the Lake boat launch, the Tagish Cemetery, and near the Carcross airport.

An additional sandbagging station is being planned for the Lake Laberge area.

A public information meeting was held Tuesday evening at the Marsh Lake Community Centre.

Representatives from the Emergency Measures Organization and Yukon Energy were on hand to speak, as well as the assistant deputy minister of Community Services and the incident commander from Southern Lakes.

Concerned property owners in Southern Lakes can contact Breagha Fraser, the public information officer, at 332-7084 or at flooding@yukon.ca.