Flood in Upr Tanana Vly Fortymile, Alaska

A weak upper level low moved slowly east over the Yukon-Tanana Uplands on the 7th and 8th. Up to 3 of rain fell across the region over a 36 hour period.

Zone 223: The gage on the Goodpaster River does not have a very long period of record (8yrs). Flood stage has not been defined for this river so begin/end times of flooding has been estimated. Flooding occurred in June 2006 when the river reached a stage of 20.0' and the Goodpaster climbed to a new record stage of 20.24' at 12am AST on June 8th, 2007. During the 2006 event several cabins were surrounded by water and there was a significant amount of bank erosion reported. Therefore based on past records a stage of 20.24' would have resulted in significant overbank flooding. The USGS took a flow measurement the afternoon of June 8th, about 12 hrs after the crest, and reported that the river was flowing at bankfull levels (stage was 18.5'). No damage has been reported.

Zone 224: Fortymile River: The stage of 88.71' is the highest level on the Fortymile since 2001. Flood stage has not been defined for this river and the begin/end times of flooding have been estimated. Even at a high stages nothing is impacted near the gage site. The water was well up into the trees and it is assumed that a significant amount of water was flowing overbank in stretches along the river that are not as steep as the vicinity of the gage. No damage has been reported to NWS. Suction dredge miners and campers were likely the only people impacted in this remote drainage.