Those of us who live in the northern climes look forward to the glories of the short, intense, warm, beautiful summers that grace our horizons. After 8 months of cold, snow, and dark we are well ready for a change. But with the change comes the very real threat of river ice jams and subsequent flooding. This particular winter brought more than 30 inches of snow above the yearly average, so the weather-mongers and hydrologists have been forecasting worse than average high water. Most of the approximately 225 native villages are located close to rivers or the Arctic Sea coast. The first week of May saw the first river ice movement, with Manley Hot Springs the first of probably many small communities needing outside assistance with resources not easily accessible…
