Flooding from the Anchor River reaches over campgrounds in the Anchor River State Recreation Area and Anchor Point Road on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Tim Hatfield

Flooding from the Anchor River reaches over campgrounds in the Anchor River State Recreation Area and Anchor Point Road on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Tim Hatfield

Anchor River floods again

A ice dam on the Anchor River caused another flooding incident on Monday.

Flooding occurred once more in the Anchor River State Recreation Area on Monday. An ice dam caused water from the river to wash over the abutting campgrounds and across Anchor Point Road, up to a depth of 18 inches.

The Alaska Department of Transportation closed Anchor Point Road on Monday because of the overreaching water. The closure was lifted Tuesday morning, after the water had receded to a depth of approximately 3-4 inches, said Justin Shelby, administrative operations manager for the Alaska DOT Central Region.

“The ice dam did release,” Shelby said Tuesday afternoon. “We are continuing to monitor that, but (the water) is going down at this point.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

This is at least the second flood incident. An ice dam previously caused the Anchor River to flood Anchor Point Road on Dec. 10.

“This flooding is certainly the worst that we’ve seen in recent history,” Shelby said. “We typically don’t see flooding anywhere near the amount that we’ve gotten this year.”

Shelby said that DOT is currently in the design phase for a pavement preservation project for Anchor Point Road. This project, which is currently set to be implemented in 2026 or 2027, should address the perennial flooding issue and condition of the pavement of the state-owned road. However, DOT’s focus lies on maintaining the road infrastructure; impacts to other areas of the park including the campgrounds would likely need to be investigated and addressed by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, which oversees the Anchor River State Recreation Area.

Shelby also noted that water incursion on the road is likely to cause potholes.

“We are aware of those and are addressing those as we are able to,” he said.

While DOT will continue monitoring the condition of Anchor Point Road, community members are also welcome to report potholes to dot.potholes@alaska.gov.

The Alaska Department of Transportation closed Anchor River Road on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, due to flooding caused by an ice dam on the Anchor River in the Anchor River State Recreation Area in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Tim Hatfield

The Alaska Department of Transportation closed Anchor River Road on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, due to flooding caused by an ice dam on the Anchor River in the Anchor River State Recreation Area in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Tim Hatfield

Approximately 18 inches of water from the Anchor River flooded Anchor Point Road in the Anchor River State Recreation Area on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Tim Hatfield

Approximately 18 inches of water from the Anchor River flooded Anchor Point Road in the Anchor River State Recreation Area on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Tim Hatfield

An ice dam on the Anchor River caused flooding in the Anchor River State Recreation Area, impacting both the campgrounds and Anchor River Road, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Tim Hatfield

An ice dam on the Anchor River caused flooding in the Anchor River State Recreation Area, impacting both the campgrounds and Anchor River Road, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Tim Hatfield

Large ice chunks, heaved up from the Anchor River, lie scattered on the riverbank on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Tim Hatfield

Large ice chunks, heaved up from the Anchor River, lie scattered on the riverbank on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. Photo courtesy of Tim Hatfield

More in News

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Robert Weaver was last seen at the Doroshin Bay public use cabin on June 25, 2025. (Photo provided by the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Kenai wildlife refuge seeking information on missing man

Robert Weaver was last seen near Skilak Lake on June 25.

The Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team conducts a training mission in Seward, Alaska in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team
Anchor Point fundraiser to benefit Alaska rescue and recovery group

Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization established in 2016.

Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic staff (left to right) Angie Holland, RN; Jane Rohr, Sonja Martin Young, CNM; Robin Holmes, MD; and Cherie Bole, CMA provide an array of reproductive and sexual health services. (Photo provided by KBFPC)
Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic releases report on STI trends on the Kenai Peninsula

The report pulls from data gathered from 2024 to early 2025.

Pool manager and swim coach Will Hubler leads a treading water exercise at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Swimmers, parents call on Kenai to support Kenai Central pool

The KPBSD Board of Education last week said communities will need to step up and take over administration of pools within the next year.

Traffic passes by South Spruce Street in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai drops effort to rename South Spruce Street

The resolution would have changed the name to make it clear which road led to North Kenai Beach

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress fourth grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Dunleavy calls special session for August

Lawmakers on Wednesday said they were surprised by the move.

Most Read