High Water in Selawik All Summer Long

Observation by Tanya Ballot with Ida Norton:

Having high water all summer is unusual in Selawik. Usually we have periods of high water in spring when the ice goes out, and then it recedes/emerges according to the tide. This year, the Selawik River had high water all summer long. The high water posed safety hazards on the island side, and resulted in the removal of part of the main road boardwalk. Water has been high all summer, and we are able to go further up river and into Ikuyiq because of the high water. Ikuyiq is usually shallow and inaccessible. Water at the end of the island (Nunavuaraq) has risen enough to be near the entrance of the residents' homes. Another factor of the water being near the entrance is erosion. We do not know why the water was so high. One benefit was that people were able to boat upriver to hunt and harvest where they cannot usually go because of the high water.

Comment from LEO Editors:

This observation was shared with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy at University of Alaska Fairbanks and the National Weather Service Alaska Pacific River Forecast Center.