Thin ice on Big Lake, borough cautions

BIG LAKE - Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services officials are urging caution on the ice in Big Lake this weekend.

Warm temperatures, standing water and a reduction of ice thickness are creating unseasonable conditions on Big Lake. Those concerns are complicated by the influx in foot and vehicle traffic expected for the upcoming Iron Dog snowmachine race start, which is slated for 11 a.m., Sunday at Big Lake's South Port Marina.

"People need to pay attention to what's going on," West Lakes Fire Chief Bill Gamble said after the Mat-Su Borough issued a press release Friday afternoon noting concerns. "The ice condition for this time of year is not normal."

Gamble said, typically, the Big Lake ice can be up to 5 feet in thickness in mid-February. Gamble said the ice thickness has been reported at 30 inches, and as thin as 24 in some spots.

There also is standing water in the area Iron Dog officials planned to stage the start. Up to 18" by some accounts. The race chute has been moved from it's original location close to shore to a little further out near the ice road and where the ice is thicker and standing water is at a minimum.

Late Friday afternoon, Iron Dog executive director Kevin Kastner said preparations for the start are continuing as planned.

"We've been out here since 9 this morning setting up. There's definitely some areas of concern, but not at this point has there been a decision to change our start. Everything seems to be going as planned," Kastner said. "Clearly we're going to have some issues, but we're going to be able to make it work."

According to Marguerite Bogert with the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce the Big Lake Winterfest is also going on as planned.

"The only thing canceled is Corey Davis," said Bogert. "They've moved vendor row up off the ice so things are fine.

To see standing water on Big Lake concerns Borough officials, Gamble said, reiterating the need for extra caution.

"Traffic on Big Lake is at your own risk," Gamble said.

The Borough will have extra responders on duty to monitor the situation, Gamble said, and the emergency communication command van will be set up at West Lakes Fire Station.