USGS measures glacial flooding in Juneau, Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — USGS streamgages show flood conditions are now underway, with live cameras providing real-time views on the USGS HIVIS website. Glacier-caused flooding has become an annual threat since 2011, with record-breaking floods over the past two years that impacted more than 300 homes and threatened public safety.
The USGS is working with the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to monitor conditions and provide real-time data on the glacier lake releases. A glacier-dammed lake forms when a glacier blocks the natural drainage of a valley, trapping water that eventually ...