An outburst of flooding from a lake dammed by Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier has once again wreaked havoc on nearby neighborhoods, damaging at least an estimated 100 homes. This recurring hazard stems from a lake formed in a basin left behind by a retreating glacier, which fills with rainwater and snowmelt during the spring and summer. As pressure builds, the water forces its way out through channels beneath Mendenhall Glacier.
Since 2011, this phenomenon has periodically caused flooding of streets and homes near Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River. Last year, a dramatic incident saw a two-story home swept away by floodwaters, prompting some residents to reinforce the riverbank near their properties. This year's flooding, while less dramatic in terms of structural damage, was more widespread, affecting hundreds of homes, including some outside expected flood areas.
