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Kuskokwim River condition reports

Middle Kuskokwim Ice Surveys Underway Ahead Of Plowing

Native Village of Napaimute

Communities along the Middle Kuskokwim are working together to establish a safe trail on the river ice, but it will be some time before a trail can be plowed through.

Most of the communities are surveying the ice and marking trails for the rest of the week. They say there are several open holes, and there is no truck trail plowed through rough areas yet. Even though much of the ice is thick enough to support heavy machinery, there are still many areas that are not yet thick enough for plowing.

The Native Village of Napaimute issued a release saying that they are starting to survey the ice and mark a trail, and will mark thin areas or open holes with blue reflectors.

With funding assistance from an "Arrive Alive" grant from the Federal Highway Administration, communities from Kalaskag to Crooked Creek are pooling their efforts to establish a safe trail some time before Christmas.

If all goes well, and the ice continues to thicken, communities hope to begin plowing next week. The "Arrive Alive" grant is helping to fund surveying and marking the ice, wages for equipment operators, and filling in the gaps between villages.

For the full report click here.