Willow Creek flooding threat subsides

November 11, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman reporter

WILLOW - Nearly 40 homes along Willow Creek threatened all week by flooding from two large ice dams appear set to get a reprieve.

Water was still in yards Thursday evening, according to Dennis Brodigan, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough's emergency services director. But the real flooding threat had subsided, thanks to a change in weather.

The National Weather Service has predicted that the recent warmer weather pattern will help melt and break up the ice dams and return the creek's flow to normal by the weekend.

Earlier in the week, though, the situation was less certain.

Flood waters came within 20 feet of one home and were flowing over a portion of Burrow Road late Monday afternoon, according to Brodigan. The homes endangered are located approximately four miles upriver of the Parks Highway crossing near Mile 71. Borough officials notified their owners of the flood danger.

Brodigan reported that a large chunk of ice broke free upstream of the bridge crossing the creek and blocked the flow of water around 10:30 Monday morning. The creek began to crest the banks shortly afterward.

&#8220There is the potential for things to get real serious really fast,” Brodigan said. &#8220That is why we were so serious about the problem. The water swelled to 40 feet beyond the banks at one point.”

Brodigan and a crew of borough workers cleared the ice buildup under the bridge and remained at the site for nearly six hours to monitor the situation.

&#8220Things began to stabilize around 10 p.m.,” he said. &#8220The ice was clear and

the water had receded

significantly.”

Despite the improved conditions, Brodigan said a potential remains for additional flooding.

&#8220Until the creeks and rivers freeze over, there is a risk,” he added. &#8220Once that happens, we shouldn't have to worry about flooding like this until the spring.”

The National Weather Service echoed Brodigan's concerns, issuing a small stream flood advisory Tuesday for the Talkeetna Mountains that stated severe cold temperatures caused rapid ice formation and multiple freeze-ups and ice jams on a number

of creeks in the vicinity

of Burrow and Friday roads. The advisory also indicated that ice jams have also been reported on portions of the Little Susitna River.

Brodigan said flooding caused by ice dams is a typical occurrence on Burrow Road in the spring and that he could not recall a problem ever happening in the fall.

&#8220The residents of the area deal with this every spring,” Brodigan said. &#8220It typically happens when the ice breaks up in the spring and all comes flowing downstream. But the danger is there until everything is frozen over.”

Flooding of Willow Creek resulted in the destruction of eight homes back in the spring of 1986, when large pieces of ice dammed the flow of water.

&#8220There is one spot on the creek where you can still see the well housing of a former home,” Brodigan said. &#8220The flooding not only took out homes but caused the creek to shift its path.”

Brodigan said he has made arrangement with the American Red Cross and Willow Community Center to set up an emergency shelter if necessary.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@ frontiersman.com.