We knew it would happen. Spring run off has started. Night time temperatures are staying above freezing and day time highs have been above 50 for the last three days in a row. Pussy willows are out in force and the cottonwoods are showing signs of life. The caribou are still around and the snowshoe hares and ptarmigan are busy changing color.
Note: The next Nabesna Road update will be on Friday,
Conditions:
Mile 20 has water crossing the road in a greater volume than the culvert can handle. This may cause erosion of the road surface.
Rock Creek (Mile 20.5) has a larger volume of water than the culvert can handle and is running 
down the drainage ditch. If the ice in the culvert melts, this could correct the problem. As it is now, watch for erosion of the driving surface especially close to the ditches.
Trail Creek (Mile 29) has shallow standing water.
Lost Creek (Mile 30.8) has a moderate flow of water across the road and has begun to form a channel. Low clearance vehicles should use caution.
Boyden Creek (Mile 34.3) has shallow water flowing across the road. Most of the ice is gone so the crossing is passable by any vehicle.
Intermittent Drainages beyond
Insider Tips:
This morning there was no water crossing the road at Mile 20 or at Lost Creek. In just 4 hours the water came up significantly. Use caution and remember that just because you made it across in the morning doesn’t mean you’ll get back across at the end of the day.
Wildlife Sightings:
Caribou x45 (4/27, 4/28, 4/29)
Moose (4/27, 4/29)
Arctic Ground Squirrel (4/27, 4/29)
Boreal Owl (4/27)
Junco (4/27)
Snow Bunting (4/27)
Ptarmigan (4/27)
American Robin (4/27, 4/29)
Sandhill Cranes (4/27)
Swans (sp?) (4/27, 4/28, 4/29)
Mallard Ducks (4/29)
Yellow Legs (sp?) (4/29)
Posts
We've been loving the warm up and melt. My yard is a lake however, as the snow hasn't gone into the ground yet. The mosquitoes are here now - the big ones. I'll take them over the little buggers! We expect the ice to go out on the Chena any day now.
ReplyDelete