Koyukok River Erosion

Observation: Tuesday there was unusually high water on the Koyukok River, rising a few feet from the hundred year flood mark. Luckily the water stayed below the bank. Erosion was high, we lost 5 feet of bank or more at one site. The bank below my mother’s house is cracking further back to the driveway of the old house site! Lost one outhouse, light pole and lots of swallow nests. Our favorite picnic site lost the crooked black spruce tree. It is now falling slowly but there is more rain today. Here are the river observations from the week: Historical crests are:

• 12.34 ft in 8/07

• 15.36 ft in 5/08

• 16.04 ft in 5/09

• 19.31 ft in 5/05

At midnight on the 15th of July the river crested at 22 ft. We flood at 33 ft. The lowest house was three inches from the water going over the bank. It dropped to +18 ft. then crested at +20 ft. latest measurement posted was 17.82 ft this morning. Forecast is up to 18.68 ft and falling for the 18th, source. Debbie Sue Nictune

Consult: This observation was forwarded onto to the ANTHC office of Emergency Preparedness Planning, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Weather Service River Forecast Center and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. .