The threat of spring flooding remains high in several Yukon communities, according to the flood risk report released Thursday by the water resources branch of Environment Yukon.

Hydrologist Holly Goulding emphasized in an interview the weather in the coming weeks will largely determine the level of risk.

When it comes to the spring melt, temperature and rainfall are key factors that influence river levels, she explained.

Goulding said so far, the melt has been slow because of the cooler temperatures.

If there were to be a sudden burst of high temperatures combined with rain, that could change, and increase the risk of flooding rivers, she said.

The snowpack this spring is well above average throughout much of the Yukon.

Goulding said the threat of flooding in the Southern Lakes is determined largely by weather over the next three months as the snowpack in the mountains begins to melt.

The pace of the melt and the risk of flooding is again largely determined by the weather, she said.

Goulding said the cooler temperatures in early April really did delay the melt and as a result there is still snow out there.

River levels in May and June are influenced by the pace of the spring melt, she said.

The flood advisory says Carmacks, Ross River and Upper Liard have a high risk of floods this spring.

Communities with a high risk of flooding as a result of the summer glacial melt are Carcross, Lake Laberge, Marsh Lake and Tagish.

A high streamflow advisory was issued Tuesday for the Nordenskiold River in the Carmacks area and for the Klondike River and Rock Creek.

Water levels in the Nordenskiold may continue to rise but are expected to stabilize in the coming days but will remain high, says the advisory.

It’s expected flows in the Klondike will continue to rise.

The advisory says Rock Creek water levels are being watched closely to determine if the high streamflow advisory should be upgraded to a flood watch.

Following Thursday’s release of the snow survey bulletin, Yukon Energy issued its forecast for peak water levels in each of the watersheds.

For Marsh Lake, the Crown corporation expects to see water levels peak at 55 centimetres above its licenced high level, and 56 centimetres below the water levels seen in the 2007 flood.

Water levels in Marsh Lake have been lowered by 1.25 metres since March 1, to levels comparable to this time last year, Yukon Energy pointed out.

Yukon Energy said its inflow modelling suggests water from the spring melt began entering Marsh Lake around May 7, or two weeks earlier than normal.

The Yukon Water Board did approve on April 28 an emergency amendment to Yukon Energy’s water licence to allow the public utility to draw down Marsh Lake 10 centimetres below the minimum level in its licence.

The corporation had applied for the amendment in anticipation of high water this spring.

“Unfortunately, because of the early freshet and with water from the spring melt already entering Marsh Lake, it’s unlikely that we will be able to reach this new reduced level this spring,” Yukon Energy said Thursday.

It said it has opened all the gates at its Lewes River Control Structure, and has lowered the level of Schwatka Lake by 95 centimetres to increase water flows through Miles Canyon.

“Throughout the summer, we’ll continue to do what we can to keep flows through the Whitehorse dam high and levels on Marsh Lake as low as possible,” said Yukon Energy.

It said Schwatka Lake will be maintained throughout the summer at reduced levels. Some docks may need to be lowered to allow users to access float planes on the lake, Yukon Energy said.

The Crown corporation said this year’s peak level is expected to be about what it was in 2004. There was no flooding in 2004.

Levels at Mayo and Aishihik Lakes are expected to peak at the full supply levels on Yukon Energy’s water licence, the corporation said.