flooding

Adam Telle, nominee for assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, answers questions during a confirmation hearing this week. (Senate Armed Services Committee photo)

Trump’s nominee to head Army Corps of Engineers vows ‘expedited’ fix for Juneau’s glacial outburst floods

Adam Telle says “it’s going to require creativity,” without offering a specific timeline, at confirmation hearing.

 

Phase One of the HESCO barriers ends in the backyard of this residence on Rivercourt Way on Monday, May 12, 2025. The next extension, Phase One A, will install the barriers along the river adjacent to Dimond Park from the end of Rivercourt Way, interconnecting through a gap in the back fence. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Assembly approves extending HESCO barriers

After reviewing flood-fighting inundation maps, additional short-term mitigation deemed necessary.

 

A collage of the flood inundation maps shows eight feet without barriers, 16 feet with barriers, 18 feet with barriers, and 20 feet without barriers. The study by Michael Baker International considers the Mendenhall River’s changed topography. (Maps provided by City and Borough of Juneau)
Video

Updated flood-fighting inundation maps show effectiveness of HESCO barriers

Maps show worst-case scenarios, future flood potential continues to be studied.

 

Workers install HESCO barriers along the Mendenhall River. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Lawsuit by property owner seeks to ban CBJ from installing HESCO barriers

Plaintiff argues city didn’t get proper federal authorization; municipal attorney says claims are errant.

Workers install HESCO barriers along the Mendenhall River. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
HESCO barriers are installed on a property along the Mendenhall River this week. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Installation of HESCO flood-protection barriers begins along Mendenhall River

Work on first stage of semipermanent levee scheduled to be completed by July, according to CBJ.

HESCO barriers are installed on a property along the Mendenhall River this week. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Water spills into homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley following record flooding from the Mendenhall River on the morning of Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)

Site assessments begin in neighborhoods where flood barriers will be installed

HESCO barriers are on their way to Juneau. Funding to study a long-term solution is not guaranteed.

Water spills into homes and streets in the Mendenhall Valley following record flooding from the Mendenhall River on the morning of Aug. 6, 2024. (Photo by Rich Ross)
A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley in Juneau on Aug. 6, 2024. The flood was from an outburst at Suicide Basin, part of the Mendenhall Glacier complex. A similar glacial outburst flood struck the same area in 2023. (Image courtesy of Rich Ross)

Bill would establish Alaska alternative to federal flood insurance program

The Alaska Legislature is considering a bill that would create a new state insurance program to address damages from floods, including glacial outburst floods that… Continue reading

A drone image shows widespread flooding in the Mendenhall Valley in Juneau on Aug. 6, 2024. The flood was from an outburst at Suicide Basin, part of the Mendenhall Glacier complex. A similar glacial outburst flood struck the same area in 2023. (Image courtesy of Rich Ross)
Juneau Assembly Member Maureen Hall (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (center) talk to residents during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, about the establishment of a Local Improvement District that would require homeowners in the area to pay nearly $6,300 each for barriers to protect against glacial outburst floods. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Flood district plan charging property owners nearly $6,300 each gets unanimous OK from Assembly

117 objections filed for 466 properties in Mendenhall Valley deemed vulnerable to glacial floods.

Juneau Assembly Member Maureen Hall (left) and Mayor Beth Weldon (center) talk to residents during a break in an Assembly meeting Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, about the establishment of a Local Improvement District that would require homeowners in the area to pay nearly $6,300 each for barriers to protect against glacial outburst floods. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A map shows properties within a proposed Local Improvement District whose owners could be charged nearly $6,300 each for the installation of a semi-permanent levee to protect the area from floods. (City and Borough of Juneau map)

81 of 466 property owners object to flood district plan ahead of Assembly vote on Monday

Residents in zone would have to pay about $6,300 each for barriers if plan approved.

A map shows properties within a proposed Local Improvement District whose owners could be charged nearly $6,300 each for the installation of a semi-permanent levee to protect the area from floods. (City and Borough of Juneau map)
Juneau’s flooded Mendenhall Valley is seen on Aug. 6, 2024. The waters pouring from an outburst flood at Mendenhall Glacier reached record levels, surpassing the record set by a similar glacial outburst flood the previous year. Hundreds of homes were damaged, and some were destroyed. (Photo provided by the City and Borough of Juneau)

Researchers embark on five-year study of flood risks at Alaska’s Mendenhall Glacier

After two consecutive years when meltwaters burst out of a basin on Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier and devastated neighborhoods in that part of the capital city,… Continue reading

Juneau’s flooded Mendenhall Valley is seen on Aug. 6, 2024. The waters pouring from an outburst flood at Mendenhall Glacier reached record levels, surpassing the record set by a similar glacial outburst flood the previous year. Hundreds of homes were damaged, and some were destroyed. (Photo provided by the City and Borough of Juneau)
Juneau residents line up in the Thunder Mountain Middle School auditorium on Friday to ask questions and protest the HESCO flood barriers that are potentially being installed this summer. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)

Frustrated residents say concerns about short-term flood barrier plan aren’t getting sufficient answers

Some homeowners say they’d rather buy insurance than pay $6,300 for barriers, then focus on long-term fix.

Juneau residents line up in the Thunder Mountain Middle School auditorium on Friday to ask questions and protest the HESCO flood barriers that are potentially being installed this summer. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
A street in a Mendenhall Valley neighborhood is closed following record flooding on Aug. 6 that damaged nearly 300 homes. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Flood district protection plan faces high barrier if enough property owners protest $6,300 payments

Eight of nine Assembly members need to OK plan if enough objections filed; at least two already have doubts.

A street in a Mendenhall Valley neighborhood is closed following record flooding on Aug. 6 that damaged nearly 300 homes. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
A map shows properties within a proposed Local Improvement District whose owners could be charged nearly $8,000 each for the installation of a semi-permanent levee to protect the area from floods. (City and Borough of Juneau map)

Assembly holding public hearing on $8K per-property flood district as other agreements, arguments persist

City, Forest Service, tribal council sign $1M study pact; citizens’ group video promotes lake levee.

A map shows properties within a proposed Local Improvement District whose owners could be charged nearly $8,000 each for the installation of a semi-permanent levee to protect the area from floods. (City and Borough of Juneau map)
Dozens of residents pack into a Juneau Assembly meeting at City Hall on Monday night, where a proposal that would require property owners in flood-vulnerable areas to pay thousands of dollars apiece for the installation of protective flood barriers was discussed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Assembly OKs lowering flood barrier payment for property owners to about $6,300 rather than $8,000

Amended ordinance makes city pay higher end of 60/40 split, rather than even share.

Dozens of residents pack into a Juneau Assembly meeting at City Hall on Monday night, where a proposal that would require property owners in flood-vulnerable areas to pay thousands of dollars apiece for the installation of protective flood barriers was discussed. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
An aerial view of people standing near destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding on Oct. 8, 2024 in Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Members of U.S. Senate back disaster aid request amid increasing storm severity

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s request for nearly $100 billion in natural disaster response and recovery funding is on track to sail through the U.S.… Continue reading

An aerial view of people standing near destroyed and damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding on Oct. 8, 2024 in Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
People living in areas affected by flooding from Suicide Basin pick up free sandbags on Oct. 20 at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)

Opinion: Mired in bureaucracy, CBJ long-term flood fix advances at glacial pace

During meetings in Juneau last week, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) officials said it will likely take a decade or more to research and… Continue reading

People living in areas affected by flooding from Suicide Basin pick up free sandbags on Oct. 20 at Thunder Mountain Middle School. (City and Borough of Juneau photo)
Noah Teshner (right) exhibits the physical impact military-grade flood barriers will have on properties with the help of other residents at a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Locals protesting $8K payment for temporary flood barriers told rejection may endanger permanent fix

Feds providing barriers free, but more help in danger if locals won’t pay to install them, city manager says.

Noah Teshner (right) exhibits the physical impact military-grade flood barriers will have on properties with the help of other residents at a Juneau Assembly meeting on Monday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A map shows properties within a proposed Local Improvement District whose owners could be charged nearly $8,000 each for the installation of a semi-permanent levee to protect the area from floods. (City and Borough of Juneau map)

Hundreds of property owners in flood zone may have to pay $7,972 apiece for Hesco barrier levee

City, property owners to split $7.83M project cost under plan Juneau Assembly will consider Monday.

A map shows properties within a proposed Local Improvement District whose owners could be charged nearly $8,000 each for the installation of a semi-permanent levee to protect the area from floods. (City and Borough of Juneau map)
Dan Allard (right), a flood fighting expert for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, explains how Hesco barriers function at a table where miniature replicas of the three-foot square and four-foot high barriers are displayed during an open house Thursday evening at Thunder Mountain Middle School to discuss flood prevention options in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Residents express deluge of concerns about flood barriers as experts host meetings to offer advice

City, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers say range of protection options are still being evaluated

Dan Allard (right), a flood fighting expert for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, explains how Hesco barriers function at a table where miniature replicas of the three-foot square and four-foot high barriers are displayed during an open house Thursday evening at Thunder Mountain Middle School to discuss flood prevention options in Juneau. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many Louisiana homes were rebuilt with the living space on the second story, with garage space below, to try to protect the home from future flooding. (Infrogmation of New Orleans via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA)

Misperceptions stand in way of disaster survivors wanting to rebuild safer, more sustainable homes

As Florida and the Southeast begin recovering from 2024’s destructive hurricanes, many people are asking: How can we rebuild sustainably and in a way that… Continue reading

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many Louisiana homes were rebuilt with the living space on the second story, with garage space below, to try to protect the home from future flooding. (Infrogmation of New Orleans via Wikimedia, CC BY-SA)