Getting Ahead of Flooding
April 15, 2023
Allison Sayer - CRR Staff
On April 6, the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) held a meeting at the Glennallen American Legion to discuss mitigating and preparing for spring flooding risk. The meeting was led by Bruce Cain, who is a board member for the Glennallen Improvement Corporation. There were 23 in-person and two phone attendees. This meeting was not attended by CRR staff; Cain’s notes and statements were used to compose this write-up.
“We hope that no flooding happens, but we are getting prepared,” said Cain. Floods occurred in Glennallen last year that started April 30, peaked May 5-6, and subsided May 10. Landslides and flooding continued until freeze up throughout the valley.
Fisher’s measurements also indicate that the snow load in the watershed north of Gulkana is about 70% of last year’s record-busting amount, which is still a considerable amount of snow.
During the meeting, Jason Severs presented a summary delivered to him by NOAA hydrologic forecaster Justin Fisher. Fisher’s measurements indicate the snow load in the Moose Creek watershed, including Tazlina, Tolsona Lake, and Lake Louise, is about equivalent to last year’s. Moose Creek was a culprit in property damaging flooding in 2022.
Fisher’s measurements also indicate that the snow load in the watershed north of Gulkana is about 70% of last year’s record-busting amount, which is still a considerable amount of snow.
Fisher stated that spring flooding risk will be determined in part by temperature trends over the next few weeks. Gradual warming with freezing nights could create a more easeful melt for the area, while a sudden warm-up could increase flooding risk.
During the meeting, both short-term and long-term action items to prevent and mitigate flood damage were discussed.
The meeting inventoried equipment and personnel available for flood protection and response, including Tazlina forestry crews for sandbagging and a sewer pump owned by Glennallen Community Development Corporation.
Setting up a community coordinator system was discussed so that volunteers know who to contact in case they identify debris that is not safe for them to remove themselves.
Cain shared that DOT has a mitigation plan in place for Moose Creek for 2023, and permits are pending. The DOT plan includes diking, culvert cleaning, and staging machinery for emergency use. Copper Valley Electric Association has also been working on mitigation in areas they are responsible for.
Other action items for LEPC include outreach to local private equipment owners for assistance with log jams and roles for volunteers in preemptively identifying and clearing debris and filling and staging sandbags. Setting up a community coordinator system was discussed so that volunteers know who to contact in case they identify debris that is not safe for them to remove themselves.
The LEPC would also like the local public to be prepared for floods by having extra medications and drinking water available for the home. It can also be helpful to develop an evacuation plan ahead of time, including deciding where all household members should go in case of an emergency. Investing in personal pumps and organizing items that are stored in flood-prone areas can prevent damage.
The plan includes a reminder that while material things can be replaced, humans can not. It is important to remember that trying to clear debris or culverts once a flood is occurring is extremely dangerous. Do not put your life at risk. Swift or deep water can quickly wash away people, vehicles, and equipment.
“The meeting went well, and I am so thankful for everyone who attended. Everyone had something to share toward helping prepare for potential spring flooding. The meeting was a good mix of real concern and a lot of good ideas for ways to help. It was good to get everyone together to talk about the flooding issue as a community. We have all been doing something individually, and now we have a better understanding of how we can work together.” –Bruce Cain
The group discussed long-term mitigation options. These included large-scale drainage surveys and potentially larger-scale physical work to change the shape of the floodplain. Identifying road improvement priorities is another long-term item. All of these plans would require multi-agency collaboration.
In an email to CRR, Cain said he “thought the meeting went well and am so thankful for everyone who attended. Everyone had something to share toward helping prepare for potential spring flooding. The meeting was a good mix of real concern and a lot of good ideas for ways to help. It was good to get everyone together to talk about the flooding issue as a community. We have all been doing something individually, and now we have a better understanding of how we can work together.”
Cain continued, “The immediate action items list developed by the group is pretty much common sense. It is good to have these ideas thought about ahead of time. We also have some larger issues that will take time to resolve, and hopefully by working together, these can be addressed.”
More reporting from Allison Sayer:
March CRSD School Board Meeting
Brine Leak at Pump Station 11Reversal of Regulation Proposed for Bear Baiting and More
Changing Ice in the Copper Basin
Public Meeting On Proposed Nuclear Project
Valdez City Council Endorses Nuclear Microreactor Bills
