1:42 → 1:56(14s)
The City and Borough of Juneau held a Committee of the Whole work session focused on the Mendenhall Glacier/Suicide Basin outburst-flood hazard, technical science briefings, short-term flood protections and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ and NRCS’s roles. Scientists from the University of Alaska, USGS and the National Weather Service reviewed drone-derived basin surveys, volume/elevation curves and recent flood hydrographs; they said the 2025 release discharged about 51,000 acre-feet and that basin storage has been increasing while the ice dam thins. The Army Corps described a May 2026 target for a technical report that will evaluate five enduring alternatives and confirmed phase 2 advanced measures will be 100% federally funded; Corps engineers said temporary Hesco-style barriers are not a safe community solution for View Drive. The NRCS outlined an Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) buyout path for View Drive, estimated a full-participation cost near $25 million, and staff were directed to seek a federal waiver of the 25% local match.
