Ice jam shuts down Whitehorse hydro dam

Yukon Energy was forced to shut down its Whitehorse hydroelectric generating station over the weekend due to an ice jam.

Mild temperatures and brisk winds, at the south end of Schwatka Lake, caused sheets of ice to break away from the shoreline, creating an ice jam in an area near the intake of the hydro generators.

The ice jam forced the shutdown of three of the four hydro units at the dam and caused problems with the fourth. 

The company has fired up its diesel back-up generators, and needed 10 of them to meet peak energy demand Monday morning — five in Whitehorse, four in Dawson City and one in Faro.

Divers are using a steam truck today to melt the ice that's causing the problems.

Officials say they hope to have three of four hydro generators back online by tonight or Tuesday morning.