(FORT COLLINS, CO) Every summer, people living near the Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska, keep a close eye on the water level. When the river level begins to rise rapidly, it’s a sign that Suicide Basin, a small glacier-dammed lake 5 miles up the mountains, has broken through the glacier again and a glacial lake outburst flood is underway.
After nearly 15 straight years of ever-larger and more damaging floods in Alaska’s capital city, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is discussing an ambitious and expensive solution: create a permanent drain from the lake that would prevent it from reaching outburst stage.
kAm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<E@@]@C8^a_ad^`a^`a^2C>J\4@CAD\H:==\AFCDF6\2\=2<6\E2A\D@=FE:@?\E@\DE@A\8=24:2=\@FE3FCDE\7=@@5D\:?\E96\>6?56?92==\G2==6J\96C6D\H92E\E92E\>62?DQm:?:E:2= 4@DE 6DE:>2E6Dk^2m 7@C E96 AC@;64E C2?86 7C@> &$Se`b >:==:@? E@ S` 3:==:@?]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:7C2>6 H:5E9lQcc_Q 96:89ElQae_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^@A@%8x;hf$&nH>@56lEC2?DA2C6?EU2>AjDE2CEl_Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQQmk^:7C2>6mk7:842AE:@?m$4:6?E:DED 5:D4FDD E96 8=24:2= @FE3FCDE 7=@@5D 7C@> $F:4:56 q2D:? @? |6?56?92== v=24:6C 23@G6 yF?62F]k^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAm$F:4:56 q2D:? :D ;FDE @?6 6I2>A=6 @7 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^2D\>@F?E2:?\8=24:6CD\>6=E\C:D<\@7\42E2DEC@A9:4\7=2D9\7=@@5D\C:D6D\7@C\>:==:@?D\ad`f_fQm8C@H:?8 AC@3=6>k^2m 7C@> 8=24:2= =2<6D E92E E9C62E6? 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5[ A2CE:4F=2C=J :? E96 w:>2=2J2D 2?5 p?56D[ 2?5 :D EC2?D7@C>:?8 p=2D<2’D =2?5D42A6 2D 8=@32= E6>A6C2EFC6D C:D6]k^Am
kAmx? 2 ?6H DEF5J[ 4@==628F6D 2?5 x 5@4F>6?E65 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A?2D]@C8^48:^5@:^`_]`_fb^A?2D]ad`bagh`abQm6G@=FE:@? @7 `c_ @7 E96 =2C86DE 8=24:2= =2<6Dk^2m :? p=2D<2 36EH66? a_`g 2?5 a_ac] (6 7@F?5 E96J 2C6 6IA2?5:?8 23@FE `a_T 72DE6C @? 2G6C286 E@52J E92? E96J H6C6 7C@> `hge E@ `hhh – >@C6 E92? EH:46 2D 72DE]k^Am
kAm&D:?8 :46 E9:4<?6DD 52E2 E@ C64@?DECF4E E96 D92A6 @7 E96 =2?5 36?62E9 E96D6 8=24:6CD[ H6 7@F?5 E92E E96D6 8=24:2= =2<6D 4@F=5 364@>6 >@C6 E92? 7@FC E:>6D =2C86C E92? E96J 2C6 E@52J 2D E96 8=24:6CD >6=E[ :?4C62D:?8 E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C 52>286 E@ 5@H?DEC62> 64@DJDE6>D 2?5 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 7C@> 8=24:2= =2<6 @FE3FCDE 7=@@5D]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQp =2C86 8=24:6C E6C>:?2E6D :? 2 =2<6]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^fa`_ea^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_aag\df\D3I8I];A8n:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m$A6?46C v=24:6C :? E96 z6?2: |@F?E2:?Di %9:D =2<6[ 2?5 E96 :4636C8D :? E96 =2<6[ 92G6 364@>6 2 D:8?:7:42?E E@FC:DE 2EEC24E:@? 2=@?8 E96 p=2D<2 #2:=C@25] {@F:D $2DDk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
k9am%96 92K2C5D @7 8=24:2= =2<6Dk^9am
kAmv=24:2= =2<6D[ @7E6? E96 4@=@C @7 2BF2>2C:?6 86>D 2?5 DA2C<=:?8 H:E9 :4636C8D[ 2C6 4@>>@? 2C@F?5 E96 >2C8:?D @7 8=24:6CD 2C@F?5 E96 H@C=5] *62CD @7 D2E6==:E6 :>286D 92G6 5@4F>6?E65 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bg^Dc`ddg\_a_\_gdd\cQm5C2>2E:4 :?4C62D6 :? E96:C ?F>36C[ 2C62 2?5 G@=F>6k^2m – 2 5:C64E C6DA@?D6 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bg^Dc`dge\_ac\_gdcd\KQm8=24:6CD C6EC62E:?8 2D 8=@32= E6>A6C2EFC6D C:D6k^2m]k^Am
kAm%6?F@FD=J 96=5 324< 3J >@C2:?6D – E96 ;F>3=6 @7 C@4< 2?5 D65:>6?E 56A@D:E65 3J 8=24:6CD 2E E96:C 6586D – @C 52>>65 3J 8=24:6C :46[ E96D6 =2<6D 2C6 2?JE9:?8 3FE DE23=6]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:>8 2=ElQp 8=24:2= =2<6 H:E9 2 =2C86 4FE :? E96 D:56 @7 :ED >@C2:?6]Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^faa`eh^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_ae_b_c\df\;74df2]y!vn:I=:3lC3\c]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfc_U2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m%2> !@<92C: 8=24:2= =2<6 :? }6A2= 925 2? @FE3FCDE 7=@@5 :? `hhg 27E6C E96 32D:? 7:==65 H:E9 H2E6C 2?5 3C@<6 E9C@F89 :ED >@C2:?6[ =62G:?8 2 566A 82D9] %96 C6DF=E:?8 7=@@5 H2D 6DE:>2E65 2E >@C6 E92? bd_[___ 4F3:4 766E A6C D64@?5[ 6BF:G2=6?E E@ 2AAC@I:>2E6=J e_T @7 E96 |:DD:DD:AA: #:G6C’D 7=@H] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@?=:?6=:3C2CJ]H:=6J]4@>^5@:^`_]`__a^9JA]fc_dQmy@?2E92? y24BF6E^$4@EE |4r@Jk^2mk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmq6EH66? `hgd 2?5 a_a_[ :46\52>>65 =2<6D :? p=2D<2 2=@?6 3C@<6 E9C@F89 E96:C 32CC:6CD 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bg^Dc`cef\_ab\c`fhc\eQm5C2:?65 >@C6 E92? `[`d_ E:>6Dk^2m] p=2D<2’D G2DE =2?5D42A6 2?5 =@H A@AF=2E:@? 56?D:EJ >62?D E92E E96 :>A24E @7 E96D6 5C2:?286D @? 9F>2? :?7C2DECF4EFC6 H2D 72:C=J >:?:>2=[ H:E9 2 76H ?@E23=6 6I46AE:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 $F:4:56 q2D:? 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^AF3D]FD8D]8@G^D:C^a_aa^d_hh^D:Ca_aad_hh]A57Qm$?@H {2<6k^2m[ @? E96 z6?2: !6?:?DF=2]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ E96 6?@C>@FD 2>@F?E @7 :4J H2E6C CFD9:?8 5@H? C:G6CD H:E9 6249 @FE3FCDE 42? EC2?D7@C> 64@DJDE6>D[ 2=E6C:?8 C:G6C 492??6=D E9C@F89 6C@D:@? 2?5 D65:>6?E 56A@D:E:@?[ E62C:?8 @FE EC66D 2?5 @E96C G686E2E:@?[ 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]d`hc^6DD5\`d\ahgb\a_abQm52>28:?8 7:D9 923:E2Ek^2m]k^Am
k7:8FC6mk:7C2>6 H:5E9lQcc_Q 96:89ElQae_Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^e&*}`<I7%&@nH>@56lEC2?DA2C6?EU2>AjDE2CEl_Q 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q 2==@H7F==D4C66?lQQmk^:7C2>6mk7:842AE:@?m':56@ D9@E 7C@> 2 96=:4@AE6C D9@HD D6G6C2= 8=24:2= =2<6D :? }6A2= 2?5 E96 27E6C>2E9 @7 2 8=24:2= =2<6 @FE3FCDE 7=@@5] }6A2= x?G6DE:82E:G6 |F=E:>65:2 y@FC?2=:D> }6EH@C<k^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m
kAmp C646?E DEF5J 7@F?5 E92E 8=24:2= =2<6 @FE3FCDE 7=@@5D 7C@> >@C2:?6\52>>65 =2<6D 2C6 @44FCC:?8 2E 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bg^Dc`cef\_ad\efed_\bQm2446=6C2E:?8 C2E6k^2m] x? E96 DE66A[ ?2CC@H G2==6JD @7 E96 w:>2=2J2? |@F?E2:?D[ E96 :>A24E @7 E96D6 6G6?ED 2C6 24FE6i 56DEC@J65 9J5C@A@H6C DE2E:@?D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C6FE6CD]4@>^DFDE2:?23:=:EJ^4=:>2E6\6?6C8J^E:36E2?\8=24:2=\=2<6\5C2:?286\EC:886C65\5625=J\7=@@5\?6A2=\4=:>2E6\3@5J\D2JD\a_ad\_f\`_^QmC@25D 2?5 6?E:C6 G:==286D H:A65 2H2Jk^2m[ E2<:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ae^D4:6?46]25DaedhQm9F?5C65D @7 =:G6D @G6C E96 J62CDk^2m]k^Am
kAm|@C6 E92? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]`_bg^Dc`cef\_ab\be_bb\IQm`d >:==:@? A6@A=6k^2m 8=@32==J =:G6 :? 2C62D 2E C:D< @7 8=24:2= =2<6 @FE3FCDE 7=@@5D] |2AA:?8 H96C6 E96D6 =2<6D >:89E 7@C> 2?5 6IA2?5 42? 96=A A6@A=6 =:G:?8 5@H?DEC62> AC6A2C6] %92E’D H92E H6 5:5 :? p=2D<2]k^Am
k9am|2AA:?8 p=2D<2’D 6IA2?5:?8 =2<6Dk^9am
kAmv=24:2= =2<6D 42? 7@C> :? 2 G2C:6EJ @7 D6EE:?8Di @? E96 DFC7246 @7 8=24:6CD[ :? D:56 G2==6JD[ 2?5 2E E96 E6C>:?FD[ @C E@6[ @7 E96 8=24:6C] (6 7@F?5 E92E E96 72DE6DE\8C@H:?8 =2<6D 2C6 E9@D6 2E E96 E@6[ 2?5 :? @FC H@C<[ H6 D9@H65 E92E >2?J @7 E96D6 =2<6D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A?2D]@C8^48:^5@:^`_]`_fb^A?2D]ad`bagh`abQmC6D:56 :? 566A 56AC6DD:@?D 42CG65 3J 8=24:2= 7=@Hk^2m]k^Am
kAm(6 >2AA65 E96D6 56AC6DD:@?D – <?@H? 2D 8=24:2=\365 @G6C566A6?:?8D – 3J DF3EC24E:?8 :46 E9:4<?6DD 6DE:>2E6D 7C@> DFC7246 6=6G2E:@?D >62DFC65 3J D2E6==:E6D]k^Am
kAm(6 7@F?5 E92E >@C6 E92? g_T @7 E96 =2<6 8C@HE9 92D @44FCC65 :? E96 >2AA65 32D:?D[ :==FDEC2E:?8 9@H E9:D 2AAC@249 42? 96=A =@42E6 8=24:2= =2<6D E92E 2C6 =:<6=J E@ 7@C> 2?5 6IA2?5 :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAm(:E9 E9:D :?7@C>2E:@?[ H6 7@F?5 E92E 6I:DE:?8 8=24:2= =2<6D :? E96 C68:@? >2J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A?2D]@C8^48:^5@:^`_]`_fb^A?2D]ad`bagh`abQmF=E:>2E6=J 6IA2?5 7@FC7@=5k^2m[ 8C@H:?8 3J 2D >F49 2D `[ec_ DBF2C6 >:=6D Wc[ad_ DBF2C6 <:=@>6E6CDX] p 8=24:2= =2<6 2E E96 E6C>:?FD @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?AD]8@G^A=246D^>2=2DA:?2\8=24:6C]9E>Qm|2=2DA:?2 v=24:6Ck^2m[ E96 =2C86DE 8=24:6C 3J 2C62 :? D@FE962DE p=2D<2[ 4@F=5 6IA2?5 E@ 4@G6C 2? 255:E:@?2= df_ DBF2C6 >:=6D W`[cfd DBF2C6 <:=@>6E6CDX 2=@?6] %92E H@F=5 4C62E6 H92E H@F=5 36 E96 D64@?5\=2C86DE =2<6 :? p=2D<2]k^Am
kAmpD 8=24:6CD 4@?E:?F6 E@ C6EC62E[ ?6H 32D:?D H:== 36 6IA@D65[ >2?J @7 H9:49 4@F=5 7:== H:E9 H2E6C] x? E@E2=[ >@C6 E92? d[d__ DBF2C6 >:=6D W23@FE `c[a__ DBF2C6 <:=@>6E6CDX @7 @G6C566A6?65 32D:?D 6I:DE :? p=2D<2[ A@:?E:?8 E@ 2 =2?5D42A6 E92E :D 8@:?8 E@ =@@< G6CJ 5:776C6?E :? E96 4@>:?8 564256D E@ 46?EFC:6D]k^Am
kAm(96? 2 8=24:6C E6C>:?2E6D :? 2 =2<6[ E96 H2C>E9 @7 E96 H2E6C 42? DA665 FA E96 :46’D >6=E:?8[ >2<:?8 E96 8=24:6C 7=@H 72DE6C[ E9:? 2?5 C6EC62E[ E96C63J 6IA2?5:?8 E96 D:K6 @7 E96 =2<6] (6 7@F?5 E92E 8=24:6CD E92E E6C>:?2E6 :? =2<6D 2C6 D9C:?<:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A?2D]@C8^48:^5@:^`_]`_fb^A?2D]ad`bagh`abQmabT E@ deT 72DE6C E92? =2?5\E6C>:?2E:?8 8=24:6CDk^2m]k^Am
k9am%96 7FEFC6 2D 8=24:6CD C6EC62Ek^9am
kAmuFEFC6 4=:>2E6 AC@;64E:@?D 4@>3:?65 H:E9 D@A9:DE:42E65 8=24:6C >@56=D :?5:42E6 E92E 8=24:6CD H:== 4F>F=2E:G6=J C6EC62E 3J aeT E@ c`T 3J a`__[ DA6==:?8 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5@:]@C8^`_]``ae^D4:6?46]23@`bacQm=@DD @7 chT E@ gbT @7 2== 8=24:6CD 8=@32==Jk^2m]k^Am
kAm%9:D :D 4@?46C?:?8 7@C ?F>6C@FD C62D@?D] v=24:6C >2DD =@DD :D 4FCC6?E=J E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^H8>D]49^D62\=6G6=\C:D6^Qm=2C86DE 4@?EC:3FE@C E@ D62\=6G6= C:D6k^2m] |6=E:?8 8=24:6CD 2=D@ 492?86 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6be_]J2=6]65F^762EFC6D^9:>2=2J2D\8=24:6CD\4=:>2E6\492?86QmH2E6C BF2?E:EJ 2?5 E:>:?8 @7 :46 >6=Ek^2m E92E 7665 >2;@C C:G6CD[ A2CE:4F=2C=J pD:2? C:G6CD DF49 2D E96 x?5FD 2?5 v2?86D] p?5 E96J 4C62E6 92K2C5D[ DF49 2D E96 @FE3FCDE 7=@@5D E92E @C:8:?2E6 7C@> 8=24:2= =2<6D]k^Am
kAm%96 =2?5D42A6D E92E H6 <?@H 2?5 =@G6 2C6 EC2?D7@C>:?8 367@C6 @FC 6J6D[ 2?5 H:E9 E96D6 492?86D 4@>6 8C@H:?8 4@?46C?D 23@FE 92K2C5D]k^Am
kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^FDnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<\_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afdfhhQm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E[ :?56A6?56?E ?6HD @C82?:K2E:@? 3C:?8:?8 J@F 724ED 2?5 ECFDEH@CE9J 2?2=JD:D E@ 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 @FC 4@>A=6I H@C=5] xE H2D HC:EE6? 3Ji k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^52?\>48C2E9\adggg_`nFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afdfhhQms2? |4vC2E9k^2m[ k6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^4@=@C25@\DE2E6\F?:G6CD:EJ\`aefnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l3J=:?6\=:?<U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afdfhhQmr@=@C25@ $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJk^2mk^6>mk^6>mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#625 >@C6ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kF=mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^2D\>@F?E2:?\8=24:6CD\>6=E\C:D<\@7\42E2DEC@A9:4\7=2D9\7=@@5D\C:D6D\7@C\>:==:@?D\ad`f_fnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<_U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afdfhhQmpD >@F?E2:? 8=24:6CD >6=E[ C:D< @7 42E2DEC@A9:4 7=2D9 7=@@5D C:D6D 7@C >:==:@?Dk^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7C@>\C64@C5\H2C>:?8\E@\CFDE:?8\C:G6CD\a_ad\2C4E:4\C6A@CE\42C5\D9@HD\2\C68:@?\EC2?D7@C>:?8\72DE6C\E92?\6IA64E65\af`dfanFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<`U2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afdfhhQmuC@> C64@C5 H2C>:?8 E@ CFDE:?8 C:G6CD[ a_ad pC4E:4 #6A@CE r2C5 D9@HD 2 C68:@? EC2?D7@C>:?8 72DE6C E92? 6IA64E65k^2mk^=:mk=:mk2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^8=24:2=\=2<6\@FE3FCDE\7=@@5D\:?\2=2D<2\2?5\E96\9:>2=2J2D\D9@H\6G@=G:?8\92K2C5D\:?\2\H2C>:?8\H@C=5\a`cgahnFE>0D@FC46l{66U2>AjFE>0>65:F>lC6=2E65\=:?<U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?lC6=2E65\=:?<aU2>AjFE>04@?E6?El2CE:4=6\afdfhhQmv=24:2= =2<6 @FE3FCDE 7=@@5D :? p=2D<2 2?5 E96 w:>2=2J2D D9@H 6G@=G:?8 92K2C5D :? 2 H2C>:?8 H@C=5k^2mk^=:mk^F=m
kA 4=2DDlQ7:?6\AC:?EQmk6>mkDA2?ms2? |4vC2E9 C646:G6D 7F?5:?8 7C@> E96 &]$] v6@=@8:42= $FCG6J]k^DA2?mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^afdfhh^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@Cl=66Q DEJ=6lQ96:89Ei`AIjH:5E9i`AIjQ 2=ElQQ ^mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.