Story last updated at 10/12/2009 - 2:02 pm
Flood watch issued: Officials suspect glacial dam burst
A suspected release of the Snow River glacial dam has local emergency officials on alert for flooding in Cooper Landing.
Scott Walden, emergency management coordinator for the Kenai Peninsula Borough, said warm temperatures and heavy rainfall on the peninsula over the past few days have sent water gushing down a number of streams.
The cold-water temperatures recorded at the stream-flow gauge on the Snow River indicate that the high water might not just be from rainfall, though.
Walden said he'd been in communication with the National Weather Service in Anchorage, which believes the dam might be releasing.
"They have not done a flyover yet but they believe it's probable the dam's been breached, though not catastrophically," he said.
A flood watch was issued for the Cooper Landing area through Monday morning, with flooding expected on Primrose Road near the U.S. Forest Service campground at the south end of Kenai Lake.
The Snow River was expected to crest by midmorning on Monday.
Walden said widespread flooding on the Kenai River was not yet a concern.
He said they were also keeping an eye on Seward, where the Resurrection River had jumped 4 feet in the last few days as a result of snowmelt and rain.
The river was tapering back by Sunday.
"Everything there looked high but in good shape," Walden said.
Dante Petri can be reached at dante.petri@peninsulaclarion.com.
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