Liidlii Kue First Nation Chief Kele Antoine has never seen the Liard River freeze so late.
SA国际影视传媒淚 have lived in this area for over 40 years, and I have never seen the river stay open this long,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淯sually, the river freezes by mid-November, and the ice crossing is operational by late November or early December.
SA国际影视传媒淭he delay in the freeze is unprecedented and concerning for our community and the environment.SA国际影视传媒�
The Liard River connects LKFN, wider Fort Simpson, and the nearby community of Wrigley to the highway that leads to Yellowknife or south to Alberta and B.C. In the summer months, residents of the region can cross the river by ferry. When the temperature begins to drop in the fall, the ferries are pulled from the water. Locals must then wait for the river to freeze, at which point it can be turned into an ice road that they can drive across.
This year, the ferries were hauled out of the water in early November. The river didnSA国际影视传媒檛 start to freeze until Dec. 2, and as of Dec. 5, was still not solid enough to bear the weight of vehicles.
The delayed freeze has cut the area off from the rest of the NWT, and the impact is wide reaching, causing anxiety to spread rapidly.
SA国际影视传媒淭he atmosphere around the community has been tense and anxious,SA国际影视传媒� said Antoine. SA国际影视传媒淢any people rely on the river crossing to access essential services, supplies and opportunities in other regions. Some people need to travel to and from Fort Simpson for medical appointments, shopping or work. Others need to visit their relatives or friends in other communities. Some people also use the river crossing for hunting, fishing, or trapping.
SA国际影视传媒淲ithout the river crossing, we are isolated and cut off from our normal activities and the rest of the territory and this affects our physical, mental and social well-being,SA国际影视传媒� the chief added. SA国际影视传媒淲e are grateful for the warmer weather, but we are eager to regain our mobility and independence.SA国际影视传媒�
One of the most visible effects of the riverSA国际影视传媒檚 slow freeze is skyrocketing prices. With the ferries out of the water, and the river ice still solidifying, goods must be flown into the community, which means higher price tags for just about everything.
As Antoine points out, this is particularly problematic ahead of the holiday season.
SA国际影视传媒淭his delay has a lot of people concerned with food prices and food quality, and with the holiday season rapidly upon us, a lot of our community members use this time to travel and shop for gifts and food,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淣ot to mention the ability to visit with loved ones in other communities or those loved ones who may be in hospitals for medical reasons.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒楧idnSA国际影视传媒檛 look promisingSA国际影视传媒�
Sergei Mjatelski, the owner of Goose Flying Service, was one of the first people to notice the river was finally freezing up on Dec. 2. His company is based out of Fort SimpsonSA国际影视传媒檚 airport, and his two Cessna 180s fly over the river multiple times a day.
He had been monitoring the state of the river for weeks, and could sense trouble brewing for a while.
SA国际影视传媒淧retty much every time we take off and land weSA国际影视传媒檙e flying right over that crossing, so we always have a look and see how itSA国际影视传媒檚 progressing,SA国际影视传媒� he said hours after wrapping up one of the numerous flights heSA国际影视传媒檚 made over the river. SA国际影视传媒淭here was barely any ice on the river when we were flying around [in November]. It really didnSA国际影视传媒檛 look promising, but finally weSA国际影视传媒檙e getting some lower temperatures.SA国际影视传媒�
The slow freeze of the river means more flights for Mjatelski SA国际影视传媒� three to four a day SA国际影视传媒� but the nine-year Fort Simpson resident is adamant heSA国际影视传媒檚 as eager as any of his neighbours to see the crossing open, having seen the stress and SA国际影视传媒渁stronomicalSA国际影视传媒� prices the delay has caused.
SA国际影视传媒淓veryoneSA国际影视传媒檚 really eager to see that ice road,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淗aving it freeze on [Dec. 2] was a big relief. I was very pessimistic just because of how little ice I was seeing on the river.SA国际影视传媒�
Bridge desired
There have long been calls for the construction of a bridge across the Liard River, which would give Fort Simpson year-round access to the rest of the territory.
Antoine believes there are potential drawbacks to building a bridge, including environmental costs and the possibility of more illicit drugs entering the area. However, he counts himself among the supporters of the plan, and believes it should happen SA国际影视传媒渟ooner rather than later.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 am a supporter of the idea of a bridge over the Liard River, as long as it is done in a respectful and sustainable way,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t would reduce the uncertainty and stress that we face every year during the freeze-up and break-up periods. It would also enhance our economic and social development, as well as our emergency preparedness.
SA国际影视传媒淎ny bridge project must involve meaningful consultation and collaboration with our community and other stakeholders,SA国际影视传媒� he added. SA国际影视传媒淚t must also incorporate our traditional knowledge and values, and follow the best practices and standards for environmental protection and mitigation. A bridge is not just a physical structure, but a symbol of our relationship with the river and the land.SA国际影视传媒�
The minimum ice thickness needed to open the Liard River ice crossing to light traffic (vehicles weighing up to 5,000 kilograms) is 35 centimetres, according to Dustin Dewar, the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 regional manager of highway operations.
The average opening date for the crossing over the last 20 years is Nov. 29.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is difficult to predict with certainty how long it will take before the ice crossing reaches 35 cm thickness, as the rate of freezing is highly dependent on variable conditions like air temperature, daylight and snowfall,SA国际影视传媒� Dewar said. SA国际影视传媒淲e recognize that these ice crossings are important to NWT communities and will continue to monitor ice conditions and commence ice bridge construction as soon as it is safe to do so.SA国际影视传媒�
