An evacuation order has been lifted for residents of Vale Island in Hay River.
The Town of Hay River announced the decision on Wednesday morning. The order was issued Monday as concerns the Hay River could jump its banks and flood low-lying areas in the neighbourhood.
Evacuees were advised they can access transportation or other assistance by contacting the town's evacuation registration centre at 1-833-699-0188.
Water levels were still high as of Wednesday, and ice and other debris along the riverbanks present risks, noted
Glenn Smith, the town's assistant senior administrative officer said activity along the riverbanks should be avoided.
"We now have flow of water through the West Channel onto the lake," a bulletin from the town's protective services division read. "The East Channel is still jammed, and it will take a while to disperse."
Paul Bickford/NNSL photo
The emergency measures team will continue to monitor the situation until both channels are running freely to Great Slave Lake.
A large amount of water was heading towards Hay River Monday, indicated by a reading of over 1,200 cubic metres of water a second going over Alexandra Falls south of Enterprise.
At that time, there was ice in the Hay River area from the Pine Point Bridge to Great Slave Lake.
Evacuated residents were required to register with the town, and accommodations were assigned at Hay River hotels, at an RV park set up in the parking lot of the community centre and at hotels in Yellowknife.
That evacuation plan was designed to keep households separate from one another because of the Covid-19 crisis.
On the night of the evacuation, Deputy Mayor Robert Bouchard explained that it was voluntary.
There are an estimated 190 households and over 450 people living on Vale Island, which includes West Channel and Old Town.
The last significant spring breakup flooding on Vale Island was in 2008.