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Flooding affects Forest Service recreation areas in Juneau JUNEAU, AK, August 12, 2014 — In anticipation of another significant glacier outburst flood affecting Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River, the Tongass National Forest is preparing to close a number
of recreation facilities adjacent to the lake and prohibiting the use of watercraft on the lake itself.
Currently Nugget Falls Trail is now closed to visitors. The Photo Point Trail will be monitored for potential closure. These closures will remain in effect until further notice. Forest Service officials would like to stress the high risk to anyone who is on or near the glacier during the flood, due to the high likelihood of unpredictable effects. According to scientists
at the University of Alaska Southeast, the flood may cause ice caves to collapse, create unexpected movements in the glacier, or result in rock and icefalls from the face of the glacier. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning:
http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=AKZ025&warncounty=AKC110&firewxzone=AKZ025&local_place1=6#.U-qZUJhOXcs. The National Weather Service water level gauge at Mendenhall Lake can be monitored on the web at
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=pajk&gage=mnda2&refresh=true. For more information about the U.S. Forest Service response, call the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center at 907-789-0097/6636, or the Juneau Ranger District at 907-789-6237. -30- USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. |
